I Macchiaioli

Stories of Spots
Guided Tour + Workshop (90 min)

What if a simple splash of color could come to life and turn into a character or an adventure? This activity will guide students in discovering the Macchiaioli technique and the stylistic characteristics of these artists: Children will analyze the works on display and the artists’ tools, exploring color palettes, the role of light and shadow, and how painting can convey an innovative vision—a symbol of boldness and cultural renewal. The workshop will offer an opportunity to experiment directly with this style: starting with the reproduction of a “macchia,” each child will bring to life a character or symbol inspired by the paintings, creating a work that reflects their feelings and impressions. An experience that blends play, creativity, and learning.

Cost of guided tour + workshop: 130€ in Italian – 150€ in a foreign language

Macchiaioli. You’re up for auction!
Guided Tour + Workshop (90 min)

Imagine taking part in an auction featuring true masterpieces! Students will enter the world of the Macchiaioli through a new lens, exploring the sources of inspiration and the historical context of their art. From Caffè Michelangiolo to Tuscan and Ligurian landscapes and cultural revolutions, the guided tour will serve as a prelude to an interactive workshop: students will become young collectors and participate in a special quiz auction. Who will win the masterpiece? An educational challenge to learn about history, art, and strategy.

Cost of guided tour + workshop: 130€ in Italian – 150€ in a foreign language

Diary of a Spot
Guided Tour + Workshop (90 min)

What if you could record emotions as if they were pages in an art journal? This program guides students on a journey to discover the cultural and social values and changes depicted by the Macchiaioli, at the height of the transformations of the Risorgimento. Through guided observation of the works, students will understand the role of Florence’s artistic heritage in shaping Italian identity and will analyze the concept of beauty expressed in 19th-century rural landscapes and scenes of daily life. During the activity, each student will keep a “macchia” journal in which they will record the emotions, insights, and reflections sparked by the paintings. With the help of simple drawing tools, they will be guided to connect what they see with their own current experiences, transforming observation into an exercise in personal awareness and critical interpretation, combining analysis, introspection, and active re-elaboration.

Cost of guided tour + workshop: 130€ in Italian – 150€ in a foreign language

The Macchiaioli and the Birth of Italy
Themed Guided Tour (60 min)

A journey through art and history. This tour offers an overview of Macchiaioli painting and its connections to the Italian sociopolitical context of the second half of the 19th century. The masterpieces by Fattori, Lega, and Signorini allow visitors to observe the technical innovations of this new style, accompanied by readings from period sources that trace the historical milestones leading to the unification of Italy. The Macchiaioli thus emerge as protagonists of an art that interprets and disseminates patriotic values, depicts a society in transformation, and celebrates new aesthetic sensibilities—spanning landscapes, daily life, and Risorgimento ideals. This exhibition highlights the crucial role of the Macchiaioli in spreading Risorgimento and patriotic values beyond Florence, emphasizing the importance of women and the figure of charismatic leaders such as Giuseppe Garibaldi and Giuseppe Mazzini.

Cost of a themed guided tour for adult groups and university groups: 110€ in Italian – 130€ in a foreign language

What a mess!
Guided tour + workshop for families with children ages 6–11 (90 min)

A journey through colors, light, and shadow for young and old alike, to discover together how a simple splash of color can become a story, a character, or a little tale just waiting to be invented. We’ll look at the paintings and the tools used by the artists together, to understand how they played with colors to depict emotions and landscapes. After the tour, we’ll create our own artwork in the workshop: starting with a simple splash of color, each family will bring to life a character or symbol inspired by the paintings featured in the exhibition. An experience that combines learning and play—perfect for the whole family!

Cost of guided tour + family workshop*: €22 per adult – €20 per child

*Fees not included

The Macchiaioli: Emotions, History, and Perspectives on Italy
Guided tour + workshop for adults (90 min)

What if viewing a work of art could become a way to understand your own emotions and reflect on yourself? A journey through art, history, and introspection. As you observe the masterpieces of the Macchiaioli, you’ll discover how these artists depicted an Italy in transition, weaving together landscapes, scenes of daily life, and the ideals of the Risorgimento. During an interactive tour, you’ll jot down your sensations, emotions, and reflections in a “diary of marks,” transforming the visual experience into a more mindful moment. Thanks to guided drawing exercises, you’ll be able to connect what you see to your own experiences, turning art into a tool for introspection and interpretation as you stand before works that depict not only an era but the full complexity of change.

Cost of guided tour + workshop for adults*: €23

*Excluding fees