Home of the playwright: Pirandello's studio and home in Rome - home in Rome series 3

Pirandello's bedroom

The third and last of our homes of the famous-in-Italy you can visit is Luigi Pirandello’s home near Villa Torlonia, northwest of the city center.

Pirandello, most noted for his masterpiece play, Seven Characters in Search of an Author, won the Nobel prize in 1934, while still a fascist, hough his ties to Fascism are somewhat tenuous. There have been multiple interpretations of his statement “I am a fascist because I am an Italian.”

Pirandello lived only 3 years in this home - the last 3 years of his life. . His apartment, which includes his studio and other artifacts, feels untouched since the day he died here on December 10, 1936.  Although Pirandello's home has an authenticity that Goethe's--as a functioning museum--lacks, one has to use imagination here to reconstruct Pirandello’s uninterrupted view from his terrace to Villa Torlonia.

across the terrace - but Villa Torlonia is not visible

The atmospherics of this home and studio (and our fascination with both Seven Characters and Pirandello’s Henry IV) make it a fantastic visit, especially for anyone who loves literature.

The web site for the studio and foundation has one section in English – if you scroll down the left bullet points you’ll see “Abstract of this site in English.” The link should take you directly there.  And, if you really can’t get to the home in person, there are lots of photos on the site under “Immagini” and a video under “Lo Studio.”

For a biography of Pirandello, see the one on the Nobel Prize website.

We also note his son, Fausto, was a very good painter of the 20th century whose works are in many collections in Rome, including at the state modern art gallery, Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna in back of the Villa Borghese.

The playwright at work

Pirandello’s home is on Itinerary 8, taking off from Piazza Bologna (Metro B stop) in Rome the Second Time. The website lists longer days and hours than in our book. Whenever you go, you’re taking a chance as to whether it’s open or not. And, it’s still free. Listed hours: Monday and Thursday 9-2 and other weekdays (only) 9-6. Via Antonio Bosio, 13 B – 15.

You can try emailing or calling for more up-to-date information. Telephone: 39.06.4429.1853, email: posta@studiodiluigipirandello.it.

Dianne