Photo from tourism.milan.it

Alda Merini, the poetess, actually lived in Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 47 up until her death in 2009; she left behind her furnishings, personal objects in their original positions and the wall that she scribbled on, using it like notebook pages to jot down phone numbers, vignettes, aphorisms and her thoughts. However, unable to maintain the original dwelling as testimony of the life and work of the poet, her house-museum has been repositioned in the former tobacconist shop in Via Magolfa 32.

It is in the Navigli area, in one of the typical ‘ringhiera’ buildings with a communal balcony in old Milan, a place that was very dear to Alda Merini having been born and raised there. It is the perfect location for keeping alive the memory of the poet, giving the Milanese and all her fans a context that is intensely evocative of Merini’s literary and human experience developed in the same urban environment.

It was inaugurated on March 21st, 2011, on the eightieth anniversary of her birth. The 120 m2 museum is spread over two floors. On the ground floor there is an Atelier della Parola - a poetry workshop that runs courses for young people - whilst upstairs the poet’s bedroom has been recreated with a poetical-critical itinerary entitled “Sono nata il ventuno a primavera” (I was born on the twenty first day of spring) showcasing her biography, poems and photos. Objects of her daily life are also on display: her jewellery in the nightstand drawer, clothes scattered on the bed, cigarettes, withered roses.

ADDRESS: Via Magolfa, 32 - 20143 Milan

TIME: Monday-Friday: 3:00pm-6:00pm

TICKETS INFORMATION: Free entrance.

PHONE: 02.88464103