Palazzo Blu (Blue Palace), Pisa

Situated on the banks of the River Arno, this site has been settled since the 11th century. Parts of Blue Palace date back to the 16th century. Many famous and influential families have owned this stately palace throughout the centuries.

It was renovated in the 19th century, and a wing was added to make the palace symmetrical. During this renovation, the facade was painted its current iconic blue color. The interior features rich embellishments typical of the 19th century. Blue Palace's first floor is decorated and furnished to represent a 19th-century aristocratic palace.

The Blue Palace houses the Museum of Art and Culture in Pisa. The collection features more than 300 works of art that span from the 14th to the 20th centuries. Artists represented include Nino Pisano, Cecco di Pietro, and Benozzo Gozzoli.

The museum also hosts archeological records from Pisa's history, including the Etruscan, Roman, and Hellenistic eras. The underlying road, which dates to the 12th or 13th centuries, is visible on the ground floor.

The museum often hosts temporary exhibitions with various fascinating themes such as space or Dante's Inferno.