Milano, Poldi Pezzoli Museum

This is one of the most prestigious and unusual art collections in the world. It began as the apartment-museum of a rich collector, Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli, and was donated to the city after his death (1879). Located in Palazzo Porta, the museum fills more than 20 rooms across two floors. On the first floor you will find the Library and a collection of very rare weapons, while on the main floor you will find the Art Gallery, where the masterpieces include a "Ritratto di donna" (Portrait of Woman) by Pollaiolo, a "Polyptych" by Cristofo Moretti, Vitale Bologna's "Madonna", Botticelli's "Madonna", Piero della Francesca's "San Nicolò" (St Nicholas), Bellini's "Pietà", the "Laguna Griglia" (Grey Lagoon) by Guardi and various other canvases. In 1968 the museum was extended, with two new rooms added: one houses a collection of 60 bronzes from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century, and in the other there are Islamic art metals and paintings from the eighteenth century. Since 1980 an important collection of 200 sundials and a lace collection have been on permanent display.