Where You'll Find the Twin Sheds Museum

Dreaming of visiting Tuscany? There are plenty of good reasons you might. Florence, Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano. Heavenly countryside. Delectable wine. Food so fabulous you'll never want to leave ...

Visiting a North Korean art museum wasn't on your list? We'll forgive you. But we plan to change that.

And to woo you off the tourist track to experience real Tuscan life in our collection's new home in beautiful Colle di Val d'Elsa.

Colle di Val d'Elsa

Or 'Hill of the Valley of the Elsa River'. That's a bit of a mouthful. So just call it Colle (like the locals).

From its hilltop perch, this gem of a medieval town looks out over classic Tuscan countryside. Picture gently rolling hills, cypress trees and olive groves ...

But the highlight of Colle is its well-preserved 'Colle Alta' old town. Wander its narrow winding streets, admire its noble houses. And marvel at its 11th century Castle. It's one of the most remarkable in Tuscany.

Yet you won't find many tourists here.

Why Choose This Little Italian Town?

Good question ... Let's start with a bit of Colle's history.

The town sits between two of Italy's major cultural cities, Florence and Siena. It can thank this strategic location for its importance as an artistic centre. And for its striking fortifications - it was a pawn in their ancient rivalry.

The town also straddles the Via Francigena. This was a favourite stop-off point for hard-core pilgrims walking from Rome to Canterbury (UK) in the Middle Ages. (Want a teeny taste of their experience? Follow the Via's section 32 to San Gimignano - in one direction - or Monteriggioni - in the other).

So, while it's out-of-the-way, Colle's always been open to the outside world.

That's why its visionary local council welcomed us and our North Korean art collection with open arms. As part of an ambitious plan to attract contemporary art and architecture. To complement the town's own impressive artisanal and industrial heritage.

Back in medieval times, Colle's paper mills were the source of the weighty, premium-quality paper used in Florentine books and important Tuscan documents.

The paper mills are long closed. But Colle's glassworks are still going strong. You can visit them - and watch their mastercraftsmen magic up complex creative forms. But it's not just an artistic trade - it's a keystone of Colle's industry.

This little town of 21,000 people is dubbed the 'Crystal City'. Because it makes a whopping 95% of Italy's crystal and bags 15% of the global market.

  • Famous architect son

    Colle is the birthplace to 13th century sculptor and architect Arnolfo di Cambio (after whom the town's main piazza is named). If you visit Florence's spectacular cathedral (Duomo) or the city's Palazzo Vecchio, you'll be standing in two of Arnolfo's most famous buildings.

  • colleve_piazzaarnolfo square.jpg__PID:e541332d-f15b-4920-a73b-da7efa9f2e38

    Contemporary artists

    In recent decades, Colle has invited many contemporary artists and artichects to leave their mark on the town. Ride Jean Nouvel's panoramic lift to Colle Alta. Walk on French artist Daniel Buren's paving in the town square. And love or hate Giovanni Michelucci's bank building.

  • North Korean art

    We feel right at home in this little Italian hilltop town. We love its slow pace and it sleepy medieval streets. And we love how it celebrates juxtaposing its Italian heritage and artistic traditions with the new and different. Like the Twin Sheds museum. We think you'll love it too.
KEEP ME POSTED ON THE TWIN SHEDS PROJECT

"Colle is not just a postcard for tourists, but represents authentic Tuscany, where it's possible to be part of our community, immersed in the beauty of the region"

- Cristiano Bianchi, Colle di Val d'Elsa cultural councillor

How to Get to Colle di Val d'Elsa

  • Colle is is bang in the middle of Tuscany - We're deep in this Italian region's iconic countryside. Yet you can be bathing in the crystal clear sea of one of its glorious beaches in an hour.
  • The closest cities are Siena and Florence. They're just 27km and 54km away. That's a 30- and 40-minute drive respectively. Or 30 minutes and 1.5 hours by train.
  • If you're arriving in Italy by plane - Colle's closest airports are Florence (40 minutes by car) and Pisa (1 hour 20 minutes). You can also jump on the train from either (or from Rome or any other Italian city).
  • Want to make some day trips from Colle? You're spoiled for choice. Yes, of course there's Siena, Florence and Pisa. But in 15 minutes you can be in the Tuscan jewels of San Gimignano and Monteriggioni. Or travel a bit further to take in Volterra, Montalcino or Castiglione d'Orcia.

Finding the Twin Sheds

The museum is part of Colle's regeneration of a derelict section of the city into the North Gate Cultural Quarter.

If you'd like to visit us, please get in touch. We'll send you detailed directions.

HELP MAKE THE MUSEUM HAPPEN