Villa Brandi: Cesare Brandi's Hidden Museum in Siena

Situated just outside Siena, Villa Brandi is a 16th-century estate linked to architect Baldassarre Peruzzi and was once the residence of art critic and historian Cesare Brandi. Brandi, who co-established the Istituto Centrale del Restauro in 1938 alongside Giulio Carlo Argan and directed it until 1959, spent his later years there before bequeathing the villa to the Italian government. Owned by the Brandi family since the 18th century, the villa features an impressive collection of works by artists such as Filippo de Pisis, Giorgio Morandi, and Alberto Burri. Visitors can admire coffered ceilings, 18th-century furnishings, and a second-floor veranda with views of Siena, while the nearby Tinaia showcases 70 photographs from Brandi's extensive archive.