The nucleus of the collection on show at the Palazzo Blu was created by the Cassa di Risparmio di Pisa bank who, in the second half of the last century, bought works of art, many of a certain importance, produced in the territory of Pisa. Several donations from local collectors and artists were later added to this nucleus, increasing the cultural value of the collection, mainly consisting in paintings of historical and artistic interest.
The entire Cassa di Risparmio collection was acquired by the CaRiPi Foundation - nowadays Pisa Foundation - when it was instituted; the aim was to make it available to the public and to enlarge it by acquiring carefully selected important works connected to the history and culture of the Pisan area.
Canvasses by the most important 17th century Pisan artists, such Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi and the Roncioni Portraits by Desmarais, joined the the polittico di Agnano (Agnano altarpiece) by Cecco di Pietro, as well as works by “Macchiaioli”artists such as Luigi Gioli and sculptures by Nino Pisano and Tribolo. Another important acquisition was the Ottavio Simoneschi collection of paintings, coins, ceramics and antique furniture.
The collection, that presents a panorama of Pisan and Tuscan art from the 14th century to the present day, through very important high quality works of art, is on show in the rooms of an ancient "palazzo", that over the centuries has been the property of several noble families. The long history of this building has been retrieved thanks to refined restoration work and the arrangement of some rooms as they once were, where possible with the original furniture. The building is also used for cultural events and temporary exhibitions of National and International importance.

From Wednesday 1 st July, the Palazzo Blu Museum will be free of charge for health personnel who in recent months have been engaged in the fight against Covid - 19, as a form of recognition for the amazing work carried out in the hospitals and places of treatment of the fight against Coronavirus. Residents of Pisa and its province can enjoy free admission on Saturdays and Sundays.

You can also visit the photographic exhibition "Pisa 1960s, boom and rock", from the Luciano Frassi archive, curated by Giuseppe Meucci and Stefano Renzoni.
Accompanied by the exhibition of historical vinyl records, from the Beatles to the great gathering in Woodstock. Also in the permanent collection is the "Portrait of Artemisia Gentileschi" and the work of Simon Vouet, recently acquired and among the works that will be at the National Gallery in London in the "Artemisia" exhibition, scheduled in the coming months.