Casa Guidi, Florence
Between 1847 and 1889, Casa Guidi was the Florentine residence of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning. Here they spent their idyllic married life, against Elizabeth’s father’s wishes and turning their backs on Victorian hypocrisy and conformism.
At that time, a quarter of the Florentine population comprised of English nationals who had founded an English community in Florence.
The Brownings were both poets and playwrights of considerable fame, whose verses are often still cited in literature, music and films, and were the inspiration of authors such as T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound as well as Isaac Azimov, John Lennon and Stephen King.
Elizabeth Barrett was a great supporter of the Italian Risorgimento, and described in great detail the events of the Florentine movement in her work Casa Guidi Windows.
The Brownings acquired the original furnishings from antiques dealers and Florentine second-hand dealers of the period.
The room layout has remained unchanged, and the dining room, where family portraits are exhibits, Robert Browning’s study, where he wrote many of his important works, the small kitchen and the bedroom are all open to the public.
The so-called “Drawing Room” was the true focal point of the couple’s activities and is where Elizabeth wrote her main achievements.
In contrast with other museum homes, Casa Guidi is the result of the accurate reconstruction and replacement of furniture and furnishings, by important English and American foundations.
Casa Guidi
P.zza San Felice, 8
50125 Florence
Italy
Telephone: +39 055 354457
elena.capolino@fastwebnet.it
