Casa Boccaccio
House of Giovanni Boccaccio in Certaldo Alto, rebuilt after the war, with a specialised library, a 19th-century fresco of the poet and a panoramic tower.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The house stands on the main street of Certaldo Alto and is traditionally linked to Giovanni Boccaccio, who lived and died in Certaldo. The building, severely damaged by the bombing of the Second World War, was rebuilt faithfully on the model of the original house and is today a museum dedicated to the poet.
In 1826 the marchioness Carlotta Lenzoni de’ Medici bought and furnished the house and commissioned from Pietro Benvenuti a large fresco depicting Boccaccio. During the post-war reconstruction works some 14th-century shoes were found. The library, opened to the public in 1957, holds over 4,000 volumes, including numerous translations of the Decameron.
A restoration completed in December 2007 reopened access to the tower, from which there is a view over the Tuscan countryside and San Gimignano. The museum is part of the civic museums of Certaldo together with the Palazzo Pretorio and the Museo di Arte Sacra.
Highlights
- Fresco of Boccaccio by Pietro Benvenuti, 1826
- Specialised library with over 4,000 volumes and translations of the Decameron
- 14th-century shoes found during post-war works
- Panoramic tower with a view over San Gimignano
- Interactive station with manuscripts by the author
Permanent exhibition
- Casa Boccaccio – Route through the rebuilt house with Benvenuti’s fresco, the Boccaccian library, 17th-century furnishings and the panoramic tower.
- Operated by
- Comune di Certaldo
- Visitors per year
- approx. 39,600
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Children aged 7 to 14, over-65s, students and groups of more than 25 people |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 5 · Free admission up to age 6. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and one companion. |
| Combined ticket Palazzo Pretorio, Casa Boccaccio and Museo di Arte Sacra | €7Reduced €5. |
A combined ticket valid for Palazzo Pretorio and Casa Boccaccio is sold (€5, reduced €4); no price is given for admission to Casa Boccaccio alone. Free admission also for Certaldo residents and ICOM members. Non-resident schools pay €2 per child.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The Comune’s website indicates partial accessibility, with no further details.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
EduKids educational workshops for schools and school-age children.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
A specialised library and an interactive station for consulting some of Boccaccio’s manuscripts are available.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The EduKids programme offers workshops for school-age children; the cost of the workshops does not include museum admission. |
