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Gipsoteca di Arte Antica dell'Università di Pisa

About

The Gipsoteca di Arte Antica of the University of Pisa is one of the city’s most intriguing cultural spaces, housed inside the former Romanesque church of San Paolo all’Orto. Founded in 1887 by archaeologist Gherardo Ghirardini, the collection was conceived as a teaching laboratory where students could study faithful plaster casts of major Greek, Etruscan and Roman sculptures. Today the museum presents an impressive panorama of the ancient world, displaying casts of iconic works such as the Laocoön and the Apollo Belvedere, alongside lesser‑known pieces and reconstructions based on modern archaeological researchGipsoteca di Arte Antica. The setting enhances the experience: the luminous nave of the deconsecrated church allows visitors to walk around the statues and appreciate their forms up close, much more freely than in many major museums. The Gipsoteca also hosts the Antiquarium and palaeontological collections, making it a unique crossroads of art, history and academic study in the heart of PisaGipsoteca di Arte Antica.

Pisa Italy

Location

Gipsoteca di Arte Antica dell'Università di Pisa is located at Piazza San Paolo all'Orto 20, housed within the historic Romanesque Church of San Paolo all'Orto in Pisa's medieval quarter, Tuscany, Italy. This quiet square sits on the north bank of the Arno River, a short walk from the National Museum of San Matteo and Lungarno Mediceo promenade. Nearby attractions include the Gothic church of Santa Maria della Spina across the river, the medieval streets of Borgo Stretto with its shops and cafés, Palazzo Lanfranchi with Museo della Grafica, and easy access to Piazza dei Cavalieri and the University botanical garden.

Gipsoteca di Arte Antica dell'Università di Pisa

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