Casa Leopardi: at the heart of the residence that shaped the genius of Recanati

It would be entirely inappropriate to view Casa Leopardi in the same way that the great Nietzsche regarded antiquarian history — as a kind of old photograph, crystallized between the pages of an ancient book, immersed in a past that has nothing left to say.

On the contrary, Casa Leopardi stands as an example of a museum that does not merely celebrate the memory of the immense Giacomo Leopardi. It is here, in Recanati, in the heart of the Marche region, that this exceptional structure has sought — to quote once again the German philosopher — to transcend the notion of the past as something only to be contemplated, reduced to a present that no longer exists, with which we have lost contact, and upon which we no longer exert any will. In other words, something lifeless.

The power of Casa Leopardi lies precisely here: in the convergence of past and present, in its ability to create an atmosphere that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the vitality of this place — a place that ceases to be merely an object of commemoration and instead becomes a living present, experienced moment by moment.

A cultural itinerary to be discovered, where the cradle of Leopardi’s genius serves as the backdrop for moments of deep reflection, and poetry becomes the language of minds as brilliant as they are wonderfully fragile.

The Leopardi Library: Reading as Dialogue

From within the family palace, one can enter the Leopardi Library, a sublime place that could almost be described as a long narrative recounting Giacomo’s profound bond with his books and authors.

Each volume represents a piece of that vast historical and literary mosaic that over time shaped one of the keenest and most incomparable minds in Italian and international literature.

The library was founded by Monaldo Leopardi, the poet’s father, who began collecting books with tireless passion from a young age. In just a few years, he managed to amass such an extraordinary collection that the family library became a center of cultural excellence.

It was here, within these walls, that Giacomo spent countless hours studying, reading, and analyzing every text with meticulous care, together with his siblings Carlo and Paolina, under the watchful eye of their father. Knowledge reigned supreme in the Leopardi household, often described as the beating heart of family life.

In 1812, Monaldo decided to open his library not only to his children and friends but also to the citizens of Recanati, an act as generous as it was extraordinary, still commemorated today by a plaque in the second hall: 

FILIIS AMICIS CIVIBVS MONALDVS DE LEOPARDIS BIBLIOTHECAM ANNO MDCCCXII.

Monaldo reaffirmed this will in his testament, writing that he had founded the library “with great care and expense, not only for the benefit of my descendants but also for the good of my fellow citizens of Recanati.” Thanks to the careful cataloging carried out by Monaldo and his children, the library still houses over 20,000 volumes.

Leopardi loved to recall a phrase by Filippo Ottonieri: “Reading is a conversation held with those who wrote.”

For Leopardi, reading was precisely that — a dialogue with authors, from whom he drew the vital inspiration that profoundly shaped his worldview and his unparalleled literary genius, always accompanied by a sensitivity beyond comparison.

“Ove abitai fanciullo” (“Where I Lived as a Child”): Casa Leopardi’s Latest Initiative

More than two centuries after the poet’s birth, the family decided to open to the public the most intimate and evocative spaces of the Leopardi residence, offering visitors a unique opportunity to pause time and connect with the poet’s daily life.

It is the opportunity to glimpse, in every corner of what were once inaccessible places, a few more fragments of knowledge about the great genius of Recanati.

This journey, poetically titled “Ove abitai fanciullo”, begins in the state rooms of Palazzo Leopardi, continues through the art gallery showcasing the family’s collections, and leads to the garden, inspiration for the verses of Le ricordanze, before ending in the private apartments where Giacomo lived and wrote.

Entering the poet’s bedroom is one of the most moving moments of the visit. In this most personal and silent space, the idea of a distant, untouchable past vanishes — replaced by a tangible vitality that fills the air.

As if the centuries separating us from the poet’s most creative years dissolved in an instant. Looking out from that window over the Marche landscape, one can almost imagine him there, contemplating the beloved moon or the vague stars of the Great Bear — moments of inspiration that gave us some of the most extraordinary pages of Italian literature.

To call “Ove abitai fanciullo” a simple cultural itinerary would be an understatement: it is a deeply emotional experience, a journey into Leopardi’s inner universe, allowing visitors to feel his living presence among the very walls that witnessed his growth, his reflections, and his infinite longing.

 For more information, visit the official website.

Written by Clara Gifuni

Photo credits: Casa Leopardi Press Office