Casa Guidi

Elizabeth and Robert Browning's former family home

The palazzo Guidi in the centre of Florence was originally built for the prominent Florentine family, the Ridolfis, whose coat of arms still adorn the palazzo. In the early 19th century the palazzo Guidi was divided into apartments and several years later one of the two apartments was rented by Robert and Elizabeth Browning. They travelled around Europe and the furniture and works of art that they collected made this their family home. It was their son, Pen's greatest wish that Casa Guidi should be recreated in his parent's memory. It was not until 1971 that his wish was fulfilled. The Browning Institute of New York acquired the apartment and started its restoration process, particularly in the drawing room and the bedroom. In 1992 Casa Guidi was transferred to Eton College and after much careful research, further work brought the rooms as close as possible to a 1861 painting by George Mignaty, commissioned after Elizabeth's death in 1861. The work began in partnership with the Landmark Trust and was finally completed in 1995.

The Hub of Renaissance Florence

Positioned just south of the Arno, this Landmark is on the very edge of the centre of Florence. The beautiful San Miniato al Monte basilica, the Galleria dell'Accademia, home of Michelangelo's David and the iconic Ponte Vecchio bridge are all a stone's throw away. Casa Guidi is perfect for those looking to explore the Renaissance Florence for the first time or for those who already know it well. Despite its central location the area isn't overcrowded and still retains its authentic Florentine charm. 

The principal rooms in Casa Guidi are open to the public three afternoons a week between April and November, click here for further information.

It was built for a prominent Florentine family, the Ridolfi di Piazza, whose coat of arms - a coronet and crossed palms - can be seen on the corner house of the Palazzo. In the 1840s the palazzo Guidi was divided into apartments and in July 1847, one of the two furnished apartments on the piano nobile was rented by the Brownings, initially for three months, with all its splendid Guidi furniture. A year later, in May, the Brownings rented the same rooms, unfurnished, at 25 guineas a year and spent some time buying furniture, having curtains made and generally setting up home. Their son, Pen, was born in 1849 and grew up here, learning to play the piano which was moved into the dining room, and keeping rabbits on the terrace outside.

Although the Brownings spent some time away from Casa Guidi, when they visited England, Paris, Siena or Rome, this was undoubtedly their happy family home. When Elizabeth Browning died in 1861, Robert commissioned a painting of the drawing room by George Mignaty, as the literary sanctum in which she worked. After Elizabeth’s death, Robert left Casa Guidi and eventually died in Venice in 1889.

It was Pen Browning’s greatest wish that Casa Guidi should be recreated in his parents’ memory but this did not begin to happen until 1971, when most of the apartment was purchased by the Browning Institute of New York. The Institute, which was founded to “encourage and develop the study of literature and the liberal arts, with particular emphasis on the writings and lives of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning”, began the restoration process, opening it to visitors and arranging lectures and exhibitions. The Institute also restored the decoration of the drawing room and the bedroom as closely as possible to that which existed during the Browning’s occupation.

The transfer to Eton was completed in January 1992 and, after much careful planning and considerable research, the apartment was furnished as closely as possible to the original described by the Mignaty painting, family letters and the 1913 sale catalogue of Pen Browning’s possessions. The furnishings include Pen Browning’s desk, chest of drawers and two chairs, busts of Elizabeth and Robert Browning, copies of the Mignaty painting, the painting of St Jerome and the portrait of Pen, the original drawing room mirror, a copy of a bronze plaque featuring the head of Aeschilus, the brocade curtains which match as nearly as possible those described in Elizabeth’s letters and other Brownings’ belongings.

The restoration of Casa Guidi was completed in 1995. The principal rooms are open to visitors on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, 3-6 pm, from April to November.