Casa Buonarroti

A little history of Casa Buonarroti

Michelangelo Buonarroti was born in Caprese, in the province of Arezzo and Casa Buonarroti is not his birthplace, however it is one of the houses where the artist lived. Between 1546 and 1553, Michelangelo's nephew, Leonardo, built this building which in 1612 was enlarged and restored by his son, whom he called Michelangelo the Younger, preserving its form and structure to the present day. The young man used the project that included two designs by Michelangelo himself.

In 1858, a year after his death, the last descendant of Michelangelo, Cosimo, ceded the building and its collections to the city and the palace was opened as a museum.

What is Casa Buonarroti nowadays?

The house where Michelangelo lived was for centuries the residence of the Buonarroti family, currently a museum with archives and libraries, in this building have been collected, in memory of the great artist, a rich collection of works, models and sketches. It is located in Florence on the corner of Via Ghibellina and via Buonarroti, on a 5-minute walk from the Church of Santa Croce with its frescoes, tombs and impressive architecture.

Among the most important works of Michelangelo found in this museum are the "Madonna della Scala" (Madonna of the Stairs) and the "Battaglia dei Centauri" (Battle of Centaurs) which are hung in the room that bears his name. These two works are two reliefs sculpted by Michelangelo during his youth, however through these works we can realize the remarkable knowledge of the anatomy and the capacity to represent the dynamism of the subjects.

Curiosities of the Casa Buonarroti

Did you know that the Via Michelangelo Buonarroti was formerly called "Via dei Marmi Sudici" (Street of dirty marbles)? Nowadays it is possible to see at the beginning of the street a plaque that refers to the black marble blocks that had been in the street for years, in hopes that the artist who was always travelling between Rome and Florence, used them for one of his works.

Did you know that recent studies on Michelangelo's work show the extraordinary quality, the executive richness, the undeniable and intriguing beauty of his drawings? Many of the drawings and sketches preserved in the house Buonarroti not only represent the most important documentation of the architectural and artistic activity of Michelangelo, but they are a testimony of his career from the beginnings to the last major projects in Rome.

Why visit Casa Buonarroti?

Casa Buonarroti is currently a house-museum dedicated to Michelangelo Buonarroti, a very interesting place to discover the drawings, sketches and other works of this great Italian artist.

The visit to Casa Buonarroti is definitely interesting, it is divided into two floors with sixteen exhibition halls. On the first floor is the family collection, about 150 archaeological finds, while the adjacent halls are the works of artists who were inspired by Michelangelo and were collected by the family. On the second floor it is possible to see and appreciate Michelangelo's nephew work collection to highlight the artist's skills and talents. Here we find models in wax, terracotta, wood, plaster, for the realization of a series of sculptures, many of them never realized.

How to visit Casa Buonarroti?

For the lovers of the great Michelangelo Buonarroti or for those who wish to know more about the life and work of the great master, we recommend visiting Casa Buonarroti with a private guide and maybe combine this visit with one to the Accademia Gallery to obtain a 360° vision of this inimitable artist's journey.

Other attractions in the area

Walking around Florence, very close to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark Square), we arrive at Via Ricasoli here we find the building of an old hospital that currently houses the Accademia Gallery home of the famous statue of David by Michelangelo, one of the greatest works of the Italian Renaissance. The Accademia Gallery is very close to the monumental Piazza del Duomo and the church of Santa Maria del Fiore, one of the most beautiful churches in the city.

Of course, you can not miss Piazza della Signoria, one of the most beautiful squares in the world and the main square of the city of Florence. Here you will find some attractions such as the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace), symbol of the city of Florence, as well as the Duomo of Florence and the David of Michelangelo. In Piazza della Signoria are also the Loggia della Signoria and a replica of Michelangelo's David.

Of course, your visit to Florence combines art and culture but you can not leave without tasting the Tuscan cuisine, and its magnificent and world renowned wines.