The Best Museums at Your Mediterranean Cruise Ports of Call



By Natalie Blackbourne, to Museum Spotlight Europe (2019)

A Mediterranean cruise its ports of call can be the adventure of a lifetime.  But don’t get caught flatfooted when your ship docks.  These destinations all hope that you will see them at their best—local food, yes; shopping, absolutely; but these Museums will enrich your visit like no other items on itinerary!

Barcelona

In
warm Barcelona, science meets art in the fascinating exhibition, Quantum.
Here, at the Centre
de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona
,
Quantum
physics is viewed through an artistic lens: the actions of nature on a
microscopic plane – answering exciting questions from why the sun shines, to
why glass is transparent. These technologies are used in our everyday life in
laser, GPS, computers, sensors. Prepare yourself to see a work of art at the
entrance that defies the laws of traditional physics. This exhibit coordinated
activities, some also for kids, which aim “to have an impact on science as an
open and collaborative space for all.” Quantum will run until September 24th, 2019.

From
June 20th, 2019 to Sep 29, 2019 at el Fundació Joan Miró, the tribute to Gaudí, Joan Miró. The Gaudí Series lights up
the gallery. Bright, bold colors grace over twenty pieces of canvas, merging the
inspiration of Gaudí with the artist’s fascination of nature. Miró’s sculpture
parallels the great architect’s work, and photographs at the end of the exhibit
demonstrate the raw creativity from both artists.

Marseilles

Considered
a must-see in Marseilles, the exhibit 
Reliquaries from A to Z
allows you to peruse the alphabet with a unique theme: religious relics. Find A
as in “Agnus Dei”, B as in “Bras” (arms), C as in
“Custos”, D as in “Dent” (tooth), E as in “Épine”
(thorn), all related to Christian practices and beliefs. These images are
presented via the twenty six letters in the exhibition, with over five hundred
reliquaries from a donated private collection. Find them at the Museum of Civilisations from Europe and the
Mediterranean (MuCEM)
until September 2nd, 2019.

Until
September 1st, 2019, the Museum of African, Oceanic, Native
American Arts (MAAOA)
transports
you to the desert through Sahara:
Worlds Connected
. This ephemeral exhibit aspires to reflect the expansive
desert through song, poetry, and utilitarian objects. You can see how the
nomadic lifestyle, sand, heat, and wind all influenced the spartan physical
aspects and rich oral tradition. Evoke the traveling artist in you and drift
through collections that connect the mind and spirit to northern Africa.

Monte Carlo

A
luxurious destination on the Riviera, Monte Carlo is home to opulent casinos,
the Grand Prix, and thriving art life. The Palace of Monaco Archive and the
Audiovisual Institute of Monaco is celebrating the ninetieth anniversary of
Grace Kelly’s birth. This new exhibition, called “Monaco, 6 May 1955. Story of a meeting” will focus on her
first meeting with Prince Rainier III of Monaco, her future husband. Enjoy this
photographic tour through the Palace State rooms – you can follow Grace Kelly’s
footsteps in the same places where she met the prince. See the dress she wore
that day, along with personal items, letters, testimonials, newspaper clips and
film excerpts. Catch all the glory of the beautiful princess’s day at the Palace of Monaco until October
15th, 2019
.

The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco presents a splendid display by
the Italian painter and sculptor, Ettore Spalletti. Spalleti is known for his
subtle use of color and geometry, and immerses the spectator in a full sensory
experience. You can see this collection of over forty works, “Ombre d’azur, transparence”
(“Shadow of azure, transparency”)
, until November 3rd, 2019.

Pisa

Until July
21st, 2019
, examine the wonders of space at the Palazzo Blu. EXPLORE. “SULLA LUNA e OLTRE” promises a captivating
collection of symbolic photos, models, videos, and immersive and interactive
experiences. In this display you can observe trailblazers like Yuri Gagarin,
Neil Armstrong, the first woman in space, Valentina Tereškova, and Laika the dog.

The Museo Nazionale di San Matteo has a dazzling collection of
paintings and sculptures dating from between the 12th and 18th centuries, and
features many early Tuscan paintings. There are rooms filled with paintings by
Guido Reni, Benozzo Gozzoli, Roso Fiorentino, and the pièce de résistance – an
important picture of Christ, was painted in the early 1400s. These pieces are
currently available to view year-round.

Rome

When in Rome, be
sure not to miss the Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Rome for their spectacular show
titled, Women: Body and Image between
Symbol and Revolution
. Over a hundred paintings, sculptures, graphics,
photography, and videos grace the halls to tell the story of female evolution
through history. Different artists, both female and male, contribute to the
appreciation of the female form. Find the feminine display at the gallery until
October 13th, 2019.

The Faces of Rome at the Centrale Montemartini makes a debut this year until September 22th, 2019. This array of photographs from modern
photographer Luigi Spina is described as “an intense journey that is a true
discovery of contemporaneity expressed by the facial traits of the ancient
sculptures,” and explores the clash of modern photography against the backdrop
of capitoline structures. The striking profiles and angularity of the ancient
stone figures are thoughtful and melancholic, and the photographs revive the
antiquated stone into a new form of art.

Naples

The National Archeological Museum of
Naples (MANN
), is unveiling
some outstanding exhibitions this year, along with the long awaited re-opening
of important sections. The program, ‘Mann
at Work
’ includes the Magna Graecia section, which was closed for twenty
years. Over seven hundred restored pieces will be on display to tell the story
of Greek settlement in southern Italy. The Vanella Garden next to a Greek-Roman
necropolis has been renovated, and the Prehistory section is in the process of
getting a makeover. Different parts of the redesign open throughout the year,
and the program runs until 2020.

Enjoy the exhibit ‘Caravaggio Napoli’ at the Museum of Capodimonte. Caravaggio lived in Naples
for a short period, yet was profoundly influenced by Neapolitan activity and
culture. His realism and naturalism can be admired in works from all over the
world: “‘Flagellation of Christ” painted for the Church of San Domenico
Maggiore;  “Martyrdom of Sant’Orsola”
from Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano; “Salomé with the head of Battista” from the
National Gallery of London;and “San Giovanni Battista” from the Galleria
Borghese in Rome. Find Caravaggio at the museum until July 19th, 2019.

Corfu

If you’re looking
for a striking artistic presence at the Corfu Museum of Asian Art, “Japan
and Literature,” is now
open. The show will also include a section on the Japanese engraver Katsushika
Hokusai. Over sixty eight pieces from the collection date from the eighteenth
to the twentieth century. Books by Hearn, manga drawings by Hokusai, and prints
from the Ukiyo-e movement are also visible. Find the magic at this museum until
the end of the year.

Wishing to step
back in time? You can at the The Folkloric Museum of Central Corfu. In the
village of Sinadres, the entire museum is a reconstruction of a traditional
middle-class village home from the nineteenth century. All of the decorations
and furnishings are authentic, with historic texts to provide context. There is
traditional holiday apparel alongside instruments, farming tools, ceramics, and
a cobbler’s workbench. This museum is extremely child-friendly and provides a
section with a puppet show and other educational tools. 

Florence

If
your cruise itinerary allows for an excursion to Florence, then this year
celebrates 500th anniversaries of some of the greatest historical artists and
supporting patrons. The first major retrospective of Andrea del Verrocchio,
Leonardo Da Vinci’s teacher, is now on display at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence. Browse over one hundred and
twenty works by Verrocchio, Da Vinci, and their contemporaries, with a focus on
pieces from the era of Lorenzo the Magnificent. See “Verrocchio, Master of Leonardo” until July 14th, 2019, and you can also view the collaboration to
this exhibit at the nearby Bargello museum until 2020.

Speaking
of quincentennial events, you can see three connected mini-exhibitions will
that will celebrate the 500 years from the birth of Grand Duke Cosimo I
de’Medici. Cento Lanzi (Uffizi Sala di Levante) focuses on the historical
medical guard through prints and drawings, Una biografia tessuta on a series of
tapestries commissioned by the Duke, and l villano e la sua botticella. Divertimenti
nel nuovo giardino
on
sculptures made for the Boboli Gardens. The tribute to Cosimo I is observable at the Uffizi and
Palazzo Pitti

until September 29th, 2019
 

Venice

If
you’ve ever enjoyed the colorful and bright Murano glass, then you won’t want
to miss “Glasstress” an exhibit
dedicated to Adriano Berengo’s eye-catching art form. At the Fondazione Berengo Art Space until November 24th, 2019, you can peruse some of his famous
works alongside new ones, including those done by renowned artists Ai Weiwei,
Laure Provoust, José Parlá, and Rose Wylie. This exhibit was planned to
coincide with the Venice Biennale, so make sure to take advantage of all the
extra fanfare.

Any
enthusiasts of abstract expressionism need to check to the esteemed Helen
Frankenthaler’s color-stained canvases. 
These vibrant, multi-colored pieces span the four stages of the artist’s
career, organized to illustrate the evolution of her career. “Pittura / Panorama: Paintings by Helen
Frankenthaler 1952–1992”
will be on display at the Palazzo Grimani until November 17th, 2019.

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