‘Domenica Metropolitana’ Free Museum Sunday & More Reopenings

The Expulsion of Adam & Eve (left) and a scene from the life of St. Peter

DOMENICA METROPOLITANA is when the city’s museums coordinate to give special access to residents of the greater Florence metropolitan area. This month, free museums comprise the Palazzo Vecchio, Museo Novecento of 20th and 21st Century Art, the Bardini Museum and Forte Belvedere (all open 3 – 8 pm), in addition to Santa Maria Novella (1 – 5 pm) and the Palazzo Medici Riccardi (10:30 am – 6:30 pm), the latter also offers no-cost access to the Kurt Cobain show. A photo ID with local address is necessary to secure this benefit.

MUSEUM REOPENINGS

Together with the Salvatore Romano Antiquities Foundation, the Brancacci Chapel is finally reopening on August 7 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday only.  Hours on Friday, Sunday and Monday are 10 am – 5 pm, on Sunday 1 – 5 pm.  Sunday and Monday there will be a single ticket granting entrance that day to both the Brancacci Chapel and the Romano Foundation.

During the 1420s, Felice Brancacci wanted to decorate his family chapel in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine. The theme of the fresco cycle is the life of St. Peter, in addition to scenes from the story of Adam and Eve: The Temptation and the Expulsion from Paradise.  Brancacci could not have known how important his decision would be to art history and humanism. (rosanna cirigliano)