Gori Collection at the Fattoria di Celle: Land Art Masterpieces

Imagine a romantic 19th-century park where giant sculptures, labyrinths, and installations seem to have sprung up naturally among ancient trees and ponds. This is the Gori Collection at Fattoria di Celle, one of the gems of Italian Land Art. In Santomato, Pistoia, over 80 site-specific works dialogue with nature without overpowering it. You can only visit by reservation, from May to September, and you’ll wander for hours in an atmosphere suspended between art and landscape. Needless to say, it’s an experience that stays with you.

Fattoria di Celle is a historic villa with medieval origins, passing from the Pazzaglia to the Fabbroni family in the 15th century. The park was transformed into an English garden from 1844 based on a design by Giovanni Gambini. In 1950, Prato-born entrepreneur Giuliano Gori and his wife Pina began a contemporary art collection. Dissatisfied with traditional museums, in 1970 they bought the farm and moved the family and artworks there. In 1982, after an ethical regulation for immovable and integrated works, they opened to the public with 18 installations. Today the collection boasts over 50 outdoor works and as many indoors.

The park is a true gem. Strolling among the ancient trees leads you to discover architectural features such as the neo-Gothic tea pavilion, a metal aviary, a neo-Egyptian monument, and a pyramid-shaped icehouse. The Brana stream forms a natural lake with a small island and a neoclassical temple. And then, suddenly, the artworks appear: Morris’s Labyrinth playing with perspective, Marta Pan’s Floating Sculpture gliding on the water, and Richard Long’s Circle of Grass. Every corner is a surprise, a dialogue between man and nature.

It’s hard to choose, but some works are iconic. The imposing Grande Ferro by Alberto Burri, a red giant at the entrance, welcomes you. A little further on, Tema e variazioni II by Fausto Melotti makes steel elements dance on water. In the woods, Katarsis by Magdalena Abakanowicz: 33 bronze figures without arms or legs, unsettling and magnetic. And don’t miss La cabane éclatée aux 4 salles by Daniel Buren, a play of mirrors and colors. Sol LeWitt is also present with his Cubo senza cubo. Each artist chose a specific spot, making the visit unique.

1) An open-air museum without barriers: the works are integrated into the landscape, not in enclosed halls. You can touch them, walk around them, experience them. 2) Exclusivity: it can only be visited by reservation, from May to September, with limited groups. No crowds, no compulsive selfies. 3) Perfect fusion: contemporary art, history, and nature blend in a rare harmony. It’s not an exhibition, it’s an experience that changes with the seasons and the light.

The opening period is from May to September, but the best time? May or June, when the park is in full bloom and temperatures are mild. September is also fantastic: the golden light of late afternoon illuminates the sculptures. Avoid the midday hours in summer: the walk lasts about 4 hours and can be tiring in the sun. Come early in the morning or around 3 PM, so you can enjoy the long shadows.

Pistoia is just a few minutes away: its historic center with Piazza del Duomo and the Ospedale del Ceppo is worth a visit. If you love contemporary art, don’t miss the Museo del Novecento in Florence (an hour by car), but to stay in the area, the Giardino di Villa Stonorov in Poggio a Caiano is another gem of Land Art. Alternatively, stop for a wine and food experience at one of the educational farms in the Valdinievole.