Casa Guidi (Home of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning), Florence

Tucked just around the corner from the Pitti Palace, Casa Guidi is a suite of eight rooms that once belonged to one of literature’s most celebrated couples—Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Housed in a 15th-century palace, the property became a hub of British life in Florence. Originally two separate medieval structures, it was combined and renovated in the late 1700s, then found new life when the Brownings moved in after their secret marriage in 1847. Shortly after the birth of their son Pen, Elizabeth began calling the apartment “Casa Guidi”, turning what she described as “a mere palace into a home.”

The couple traveled often, collecting furniture and art from across Europe, and slowly filled the place with warmth and meaning. It was here that Elizabeth composed much of her poetry, including the “Casa Guidi Windows” collection, which reflects her deep engagement with the political changes sweeping through Italy at the time.

Fortunately, the Browning Society of New York restored the old apartment, and in 1993, after approvals from authorities in Italy, the UK, and the US, ownership was officially transferred to Eton College. Today, for a small donation, you can step inside and see the place much as it looked when the Brownings called it home: spacious, filled with charm, and rich with literary history. Just ring the bell and you’ll be let in—no stairs required, there’s an elevator too.