Casa Buonarroti, Art museum and house museum in Florence, Italy
Casa Buonarroti is a house museum in Florence displaying early works by Michelangelo, including the marble reliefs Madonna della Scala and the Battle of the Centaurs. The building also preserves an extensive collection of the artist's drawings and sketches spread across several floors.
The building was originally the residence of the Buonarroti family, relatives of the artist who collected and protected his works over centuries. It was transformed into a museum in 1859 to make this important private collection accessible to the public.
The rooms display works closely tied to Michelangelo's personal history and how his family preserved them across generations. Visitors can see how the spaces reflect his life and creative work, while the artworks on the walls speak to the importance this family placed on protecting an artistic legacy.
Visiting is best done during daytime hours, and the collection is easily reached through several staircases and corridors. It is wise to allow time for the drawings on the second floor, since these rotate regularly and deserve careful attention.
The collection includes Michelangelo's model for the facade of San Lorenzo, revealing his architectural vision for Florence and often overlooked by visitors. This small work shows a lesser-known side of his talent that goes beyond his famous sculptures and paintings.
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