Fondazione Palazzo Albizzini "Collezione Burri"

The Fondazione Palazzo Albizzini "Collezione Burri" is an Italian non-profit cultural foundation and museum complex based in Città di Castello, in the Province of Perugia, Umbria. It was created in 1978 by the artist Alberto Burri as a tribute to his native town, and it operates two distinct exhibition venues: the historic Palazzo Albizzini in the town centre and the converted Ex Seccatoi del Tabacco (former tobacco drying sheds) on the outskirts. Together these sites display more than 250 works by Burri, making the foundation one of the largest monographic museum complexes devoted to a single modern artist anywhere in the world. The Palazzo Albizzini was purchased by the Cassa di Risparmio di Città di Castello, restored between 1979 and 1981, and granted to the foundation for a period of 99 years. It opened as a museum in 1981 and presents around 150 works — paintings, sculptures, stage designs and sketches executed between 1948 and 1989 — arranged chronologically across 20 rooms. The Ex Seccatoi del Tabacco, a 14,000-square-metre industrial complex that Burri used as a laboratory for large-scale works from 1978, was taken over by the foundation in 1989 and opened to the public in 1990. It houses approximately 128 works from Burri's major cycles, including Il Viaggio (1979), Orsanmichele (1980), Sestante (1982), Rosso e Nero (1984), Cellotex T (1975–1984), Annottarsi (1985–1987), Non Ama il Nero (1988), Grandi Neri (1988–1990), Metamorfotex (1991) and Il Nero e l'Oro (1992–1993). Three large black-painted iron sculptures — Grande Ferro Sestante (1982), Grande Ferro K (1982) and Grande Ferro U (1990) — stand on the lawn outside the sheds. The foundation functions as a museum brand in its own right, with ticketing, group bookings, gift tickets, a newsletter and a programme of temporary exhibitions and events. Its official website highlights the scale of the collection and offers visitor information, while the foundation maintains conventions with bodies such as the Touring Club Italiano, FAI, ACI, La Feltrinelli, ICOM-Italia, Aboca Museum, Ristorante Le Logge and B&B Molenda. It remains a private, non-profit entity dedicated to preserving and promoting Alberto Burri's legacy in the town where he was born.

The Fondazione Palazzo Albizzini "Collezione Burri" was established in 1978 by Alberto Burri in Città di Castello, the Umbrian town where he was born, as a permanent home for his work. The foundation was conceived as a monographic institution that would preserve and display a substantial body of Burri's art in the place that shaped him. The first venue, the Palazzo Albizzini, was acquired by the Cassa di Risparmio di Città di Castello, which funded its restoration between 1979 and 1981 and then granted the building to the foundation for 99 years. The palace opened as a museum in 1981, presenting approximately 150 works — paintings, sculptures, stage designs and sketches made between 1948 and 1989 — in a chronological hang across 20 rooms. A second and much larger venue followed. From 1978 Burri had used the Ex Seccatoi del Tabacco, a former tobacco-drying complex, as a laboratory for producing large-scale works. The foundation took over the complex in 1989, and it opened to the public in 1990. The 14,000-square-metre sheds now contain around 128 works belonging to Burri's major cycles: Il Viaggio (1979), Orsanmichele (1980), Sestante (1982), Rosso e Nero (1984), Cellotex T (1975–1984), Annottarsi (1985–1987), Non Ama il Nero (1988), Grandi Neri (1988–1990), Metamorfotex (1991) and Il Nero e l'Oro (1992–1993). Outside, on the lawn, stand three large black-painted iron sculptures: Grande Ferro Sestante (1982), Grande Ferro K (1982) and Grande Ferro U (1990). Over the following decades the foundation consolidated its role as a cultural institution in Città di Castello, maintaining the permanent collection while hosting temporary exhibitions, conferences and events. Its website promotes the two museums as "one of the largest monographic museum complexes in the world" and provides visitor services including ticketing, group reservations, gift tickets and a newsletter. The foundation also maintains conventions with external organisations such as the Touring Club Italiano, FAI, ACI, La Feltrinelli, ICOM-Italia, Aboca Museum, Ristorante Le Logge and B&B Molenda. It remains a private, non-profit foundation dedicated to Alberto Burri's legacy.

• 1990

  Ex Seccatoi del Tabacco opens to the public, housing around 128 works from Burri's major cycles.

• 1989

  Foundation takes over the Ex Seccatoi del Tabacco complex.

• 1981

  Palazzo Albizzini opens as a museum with around 150 works displayed chronologically in 20 rooms.

• 1979

  Restoration of Palazzo Albizzini begins under the Cassa di Risparmio di Città di Castello.

• 1978

  Foundation created by Alberto Burri in Città di Castello.

A monographic museum foundation dedicated to Alberto Burri, offering one of the world's largest single-artist collections across two historic and industrial venues in Città di Castello.

• Palazzo Albizzini permanent collection

  Around 150 paintings, sculptures, stage designs and sketches from 1948–1989, shown chronologically in 20 rooms.

• Ex Seccatoi del Tabacco cycles

  Approximately 128 works from cycles including Il Viaggio, Orsanmichele, Sestante, Rosso e Nero, Cellotex T, Annottarsi, Non Ama il Nero, Grandi Neri, Metamorfotex and Il Nero e l'Oro.

• Outdoor iron sculptures

  Grande Ferro Sestante (1982), Grande Ferro K (1982) and Grande Ferro U (1990) on the lawn outside the sheds.

1. 1Fondazione Palazzo Albizzini Collezione Burri - Città di Castellofondazioneburri.org
2. 2Fondation Burri — Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wikidata Q3747149wikidata.org