2 April 2026
Florence
Florence is preparing to host one of the most eagerly awaited artistic events of 2026: from March 14 to August 23, Palazzo Strozzi will host "Rothko in Florence," a major exhibition dedicated to Mark Rothko, the undisputed master of 20th-century American art. A rare and precious opportunity to immerse yourself in the works of an artist capable of transforming color into pure emotion—and we at Palazzo Castri 1874 can only recommend that you don't miss it.
An unmissable exhibition: what to expect
The exhibition, curated by Christopher Rothko—the artist's son—and Elena Geuna, brings together an extraordinary selection of works from some of the world's most important museums: MoMA and the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Tate in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington. Many of these great paintings have never been exhibited in Italy, making this Florentine event truly unique.
The exhibition takes visitors through Rothko's entire artistic evolution: from his early figurative works, steeped in Expressionism and Surrealism, to the iconic abstract canvases of the 1950s and 1960s, those immense fields of vibrant color that made his name legendary. This is not just a retrospective, but a true journey into the soul of an artist who made painting a tool for meditation and introspection.
Who was Mark Rothko?
Born in 1903 in Dvinsk, in present-day Latvia, as Markus Yakovlevich Rothkowitz, Rothko emigrated to the United States as a child and trained at Yale University and the Art Students League of New York. His early work was figurative—portraits, urban scenes, interiors—but during the 1940s, his research took him through a surrealist and mythological phase that gradually led him toward abstraction.
It was between the late 1940s and early 1950s that Rothko developed the language that made him famous: large canvases dominated by overlapping rectangles with blurred contours, immersed in fields of color that seem to pulsate with their own light. For him, color was never decoration, but a tool for evoking the deepest human emotions—from tragedy to ecstasy, from silence to transcendence.
"When you paint a large picture, you are in it," he said. And this is exactly the feeling his works convey: that of being enveloped, almost swallowed up, by a total visual experience.
Rothko and Florence: a dialogue that comes from afar
One of the most fascinating aspects of this exhibition is the link between Rothko and the Italian artistic tradition. The artist was deeply influenced by 15th-century painting, particularly by Beato Angelico: the luminous quality of his paintings and the subtle, layered application of color recall the technique of Renaissance fresco painting.
It is no coincidence that the exhibition extends beyond the rooms of Palazzo Strozzi to include two places dear to Rothko:
- The Museum of San Marco, where the American artist's works will dialogue with Beato Angelico's frescoes, creating an exciting comparison between two worlds distant in time but close in their search for light and spirituality.
- The Vestibule of the Laurentian Library, designed by Michelangelo, where Renaissance architecture will meet Rothko's spatial conception in a combination of rare power.
This exhibition choice transforms the entire city into a widespread art trail — one more reason to devote the time Florence deserves to the city.
Practical information for visiting the exhibition
Here is everything you need to know to plan your visit:
- Dates: March 14 to August 23, 2026
- Location: Palazzo Strozzi, Piazza Strozzi, Florence (with satellite sections at the Museum of San Marco and the Laurentian Library)
- Hours: every day from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursdays until 11:00 p.m.
- Tickets: can be purchased online on the official Palazzo Strozzi website to skip the line
Our advice? Take advantage of the Thursday evening opening: admiring Rothko's works in the evening light, in less crowded rooms, is an experience that adds something magical to the visit.
A rare event for Italy
It is worth emphasizing how special this occasion really is. Exhibitions dedicated to Rothko in Italy can be counted on one hand: the last one dates back to 2007-2008 at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome, and before that, we have to go back to 1970, when Ca' Pesaro in Venice paid tribute to him at the Biennale, shortly after his tragic death. Standing in front of his monumental canvases, letting yourself be enveloped by those fields of color that vibrate and breathe, is something that goes far beyond a simple visit to an exhibition: it is an intimate and deeply personal experience.
Experience the Rothko exhibition while staying at Palazzo Castri 1874
An exhibition of this magnitude deserves a stay to match. We at Palazzo Castri 1874 await you at our boutique hotel in the heart of Florence, just a few minutes' walk from Palazzo Strozzi and all the city's main attractions.
After a day spent in the exhibition rooms and satellite sections at the Museo di San Marco and the Laurenziana, you can relax in our elegant rooms and suites, some of which offer views of the Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore, or rejuvenate yourself in our spa with Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, and exclusive treatments. And to end the day on a high note, our Florentia Café welcomes you with local cuisine and a refined selection of wines, which can also be enjoyed in the La Limonaia garden during the summer months.
Florence, Rothko, and the comfort of Palazzo Castri 1874: the perfect ingredients for a stay that nourishes the eyes and rejuvenates the spirit. We look forward to welcoming you.
