GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO’S HOUSE

Giovanni Boccaccio’s house, located halfway on the “via di Boccaccio”, hosts the Boccaccio Museum and the “Ente Nazionale Giovanni Boccaccio”. The house is the result of an accurate renovation of the original building, partially destroyed by bombing during the WWII. On the façade there is a clear line which separates the old bricks of the original medieval building from the new renovated portion.

The museum holds a specialised library, entirely dedicated to the life and works of the great Italian poet. Inside, the building is decorated with 17thC furnishings and there is a fresco of Giovanni Boccaccio, himself. The fresco was commissioned in 1820 by the Marquise Carlotta Lenzoni de’ Medici to the artist Pietro Benvenuti when she purchased the building. Another interesting item on display are the 14thC shoes found during the renovation works that followed the bombing. The panoramic tower atop the building affords breathtaking views of the surrounding area.