Discovering Michelangelo at Casa Buonarroti in Florence

Are you a fan of Michelangelo and eager to learn more about his life and work without getting lost in the crowds of Florence’s major museums?

There’s a hidden gem in Florence, away from the usual tourist routes, where true art lovers can explore Michelangelo’s early masterpieces and family legacy. If you’re interested in discovering the secrets of Michelangelo at Casa Buonarroti, keep reading!

Where is Casa Buonarroti?

Casa Buonarroti is located at 70 Via Ghibellina, a historic street in Florence’s city center. This 17th-century palace is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Buonarroti family. Inside, visitors can admire rare and valuable works by Michelangelo, some of which remain relatively unknown to the general public. Casa Buonarroti is truly a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.

Michelangelo and His Family Home

On March 3, 1508, Michelangelo purchased several properties along Via Ghibellina and Via Santa Maria (now Via Buonarroti) for 1,050 florins. While he frequently traveled to quarries to select marble, he lived in these houses between 1516 and 1525. By 1525, all five houses were rented out as Michelangelo moved closer to San Lorenzo Church, where he was engaged in various projects for the Medici family. In 1534, he left Florence for Rome permanently.

Despite spending much of his life away from Florence, Michelangelo was determined to establish a lasting family residence in the city. His nephew, Leonardo, initiated renovations, but it was Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger — an influential figure in 17th-century Florence — who transformed the home into the elegant palace we see today.

The Legacy of the Buonarroti Family

Michelangelo the Younger enriched the palace with grand halls, family portraits, and precious artworks, including Michelangelo’s early masterpieces, The Battle of the Centaurs and Madonna of the Stairs. Later generations ensured the home’s preservation, even during the tumultuous Austrian occupation in the 18th and 19th centuries. Eventually, the last heirs, Cosimo Buonarroti and Rosina Vendramin, dedicated themselves to restoring the house, which was later transferred to the city of Florence and officially became a museum.

Today, Casa Buonarroti serves as a center for research on Michelangelo’s work, featuring an extensive library and the largest collection of the artist’s handwritten documents.

Exploring Casa Michelangelo Buonarroti

Michelangelo Buonarroti Casa: Ground Floor. The Archeological Collection

Your visit begins in the archeological hall, which houses over 150 artifacts collected by Michelangelo the Younger and Filippo Buonarroti. The ground floor also features exhibits on Michelangelo’s artistic influence and works inspired by his designs, many of which come from Florence’s state collections.

Michelangelo Buonarroti Casa: First Floor. Michelangelo’s Masterpieces

As you ascend to the first floor, you’ll be greeted by portraits of Michelangelo, including a famous 1535 painting by Jacopino del Conte. Don’t miss a quirky detail — the artist’s tiny slippers, displayed in a glass case, a humorous contrast to the physical power often associated with him!

The highlight of this floor is Michelangelo’s two early relief sculptures: Madonna of the Stairs and The Battle of the Centaurs. These pieces, created when he was a teenager, offer a glimpse into his developing genius.

Other notable exhibits include Michelangelo’s never-executed model for the facade of San Lorenzo Church and an impressive gallery featuring tributes to the artist and his family. A must-see is L’Inclinazione, a stunning ceiling painting by Artemisia Gentileschi, the first woman admitted to Florence’s Academy of the Arts.

The museum concludes with rooms displaying Michelangelo’s sketches and personal documents, offering insight into his creative process.

Michelangelo’s Earliest Works: A Closer Look

Madonna of the Stairs

Dating to around 1490, when Michelangelo was only 15, this relief already shows his signature artistic style. Despite its small size, the composition feels monumental, with the Virgin Mary depicted in deep contemplation as she nurses baby Jesus — an early reflection of the themes he would later explore in works like the Medici tombs.

The Battle of the Centaurs

This dynamic relief, likely commissioned by Lorenzo de’ Medici and based on a theme suggested by poet Agnolo Poliziano, showcases Michelangelo’s fascination with movement and human anatomy. Although left unfinished, the piece remains a powerful testament to his skill, with figures that seem to surge from the stone. It has never left the Buonarroti family home and remains one of Casa Buonarroti’s most treasured works.

Michelangelo’s Drawings: A Priceless Collection

Casa Buonarroti houses the world’s largest private collection of Michelangelo’s drawings — over 200 sheets, despite some being sold to France and England in the 18th century. Giorgio Vasari recounted that, shortly before his death in 1564, Michelangelo burned many of his sketches to hide the effort behind his masterpieces. As a result, his surviving drawings are extremely rare and valuable. Due to their fragility, the museum displays them on a rotating basis.