Casa Buonarroti

Casa Buonarroti is a small museum on Via Ghibellina in Florence, dedicated to Michelangelo and the Buonarroti family. Michelangelo bought the house for his family but did not live there; his descendants later turned it into a museum. Its central works are two early marble reliefs, Madonna of the Stairs and Battle of the Centaurs. You can also see drawings, sculptures, paintings and family artifacts, with displays about Michelangelo’s life and work. It is a quieter stop for exploring a less familiar part of his story.

A family house turned museum

Michelangelo bought the house for his family, but he never lived there. The property passed to his relatives, who later shaped it into a museum devoted to the artist and the Buonarroti family. His great-grandson, Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger, conceived the project and commissioned artists of his own time to decorate the rooms.

The museum brings together works associated with Michelangelo and objects from the family collection. Its purpose also reaches beyond the artist’s own pieces: the rooms and artworks preserve the family’s effort to honor his memory.

Two early marble reliefs

The Madonna of the Stairs and Battle of the Centaurs are the main works to look for. Michelangelo made them as a teenager. The Madonna is a bas-relief, while the Battle of the Centaurs depicts a group of figures in conflict. Together, they offer a view of his early sculptural work.

The collection also includes drawings, small sculptures, paintings and other artifacts. Some works on display are copies, so focus on the original pieces and the early reliefs if you have limited time. Interactive displays add context about Michelangelo’s beginnings and legacy.