Pontremoli (Tuscany)

A heist, an art detective and a bus stop: The story of an early Titian masterpiece that goes up for auction this week has more twists and turns than a Dan Brown bestseller.

Visitors tend to zero in on the museum’s celebrated collection of Italian Renaissance sculpture, but its decorative objects and furnishings deserve closer examination after recent upgrades.

We sat down with designer Karolina Wierzbicka of August Collection and picked her brain on how to best mix modern and historic details in your Italian home.

With its Art Deco touches, whimsical wallpapers, and books on design spread throughout the space, La Gemma offers modern panache with the heart of old Florence at its doorstep.