Summer special openings of the Museums of Santa Maria a Monte

Visit the Musei della Chiocciola /Snail Museums (so-called because of the spiral shape of Santa Maria a Monte), open during the summer from 12 May to 30 September on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Special opening days in August (see the poster opposite) with a packed programme guiding visitors and tourists on a journey of discovery through the history of one of the most picturesque villages in the Terre di Pisa.

The Civic Museum, the Casa Carducci Museum and the La Rocca Archaeological Site offer a journey through archaeology, art and history, allowing visitors to explore the evolution of the area from its earliest remains through to the medieval history of the castle and the story of the Carducci family. Visiting Santa Maria a Monte means immersing yourself in the atmosphere of a village that has preserved the charm of its medieval layout intact, strolling through concentric alleyways, enjoying panoramic views and exploring places steeped in history.

From 19 to 24 August, to mark the traditional Sagra della Patata Fritta (Fried Potato Festival), the Casa Carducci Museum and the La Rocca Archaeological Site will be open exceptionally in the evenings (8.00 pm–midnight).

Every evening, visitors will also be able to take part in a guided tour of the historic centre, departing at 9.30 pm from the Casa Carducci Museum.

The Casa Carducci Museum houses the permanent pictorial collection of Antonio Possenti and the correspondence between Michele Carducci and the Municipality of Santa Maria a Monte. On the Rocca you can visit the excavations of the Rocca Archaeological Area and the collections of the Civic Museum, with two exhibitions dedicated to the Blessed Diana Giuntini and Vincenzo Galilei, Galileo’s father, born in Santa Maria a Monte in 1520.