The Casa Guidi is the Florence home where from 1847 English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning lived with her husband, Robert, moving in just after their secret marriage.
When the unification of Italy became official in Florence, Elizabeth recorded the momentous event in a famous poem, "Casa Guidi Windows":
I heard last night a little child go singing
'Neath Casa Guidi windows, by the church
O bella libertà, O bella!
(It's a really long poem; you can read the full text here.)
Mrs. Browning died in this house on June 18, 1861. She is buried in Florence's Cimiteri degli Inglesi (English Cemetery).
Restored by New York's The Browning Society, the Casa Guidi is now owned by Eton College and admnistered by Britian's Landmark Trust.
You can tour Casa Guidi some weekday afternoons April to November—as well as rent it out as an apartment sleeping 2–4 poeple. There is a four-night minimum, and rates start at £1,025 ($1,525) for 4 nights.
That might sound like a lot, but it really works out to the equivalent of around $190 per double room per night (if you are comparing it to booking two hotel rooms for four people).
For more info: www.landmarktrust.org.uk .
Piazza di San Felice 8
tel. +39-055-354-457
www.browningsociety.org/casa_guidi.html
Apr-Nov: Mon, Wed, Fri 3–6pm
Donation appreciated
Bus: C3, D
Hop-on/hop-off: Frescobaldi (A)
Planning your day: You have to be a devoted Browngin fan to visit, so expect to spend 45–60 minutes at the Casa Guidi (assuming you don't actually book the flat to stay here).
Share this page
Search ReidsItaly.com
Piazza di San Felice 8
tel. +39-055-354-457
www.browningsociety.org/casa_guidi.html
Apr-Nov: Mon, Wed, Fri 3–6pm
Donation appreciated
Bus: C3, D
Hop-on/hop-off: Frescobaldi (A)