Montessori’s House

Casa Montessori

Casa Montessori in Chiaravalle, located at no. 10 Piazza Mazzini in an early 19th century building, is the birthplace of Maria Montessori, who was born here on 31 August 1870. Her father, Alessandro Montessori, originally from Ferrara, had moved to Chiaravalle around 1860 to work as a control manager at the local tobacco factory. Today, the building is owned by the municipality and has become an important centre for Montessori studies.

Casa Montessori in Chiaravalle, located at no. 10 Piazza Mazzini in an early 19th century building, is the birthplace of Maria Montessori, who was born here on 31 August 1870. Her father, Alessandro Montessori, originally from Ferrara, had moved to Chiaravalle around 1860 to work as a control manager at the local tobacco factory. It was in this house, then owned by the Manifattura, that Alessandro married Renilde Stoppani. Today, the building is owned by the municipality and has become an important centre for Montessori studies. Maria Montessori completed her studies at the Royal Technical School in Rome and later enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine, graduating in 1896. Although it is often claimed that she was the first woman doctor in Italy, she was in fact among the first to obtain such a degree. After graduating, she undertook research work for both the university and the Orthophrenic Clinic in Rome, devoting herself mainly to children with disabilities. In 1898, she collaborated with Professor Montesano, a prominent figure of the time, by whom she had a son out of wedlock. Demonstrating a non-conformist character and a strong dedication to work, he chose his professional career over social conventions. For years, the site has joined the Associazione Nazionale Case della Memoria, promoting the interaction between different historic homes of illustrious Italian figures in a perspective of tourist-cultural enhancement. On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Maria Montessori, a project was launched to redevelop the birthplace with a modern approach. This has included the elimination of architectural barriers, the creation of an interactive path involving all indoor and outdoor spaces, and the addition of additional materials, including multimedia. The project is part of a circuit that connects Casa Montessori to other points of interest in the territory of Chiaravalle, to other museums of the Marche and to other Houses of Memory at regional and national level. The Municipal Administration has entrusted the realization of this project to a team of professionals coordinated by the project manager Cristiana Colli, with the supervision of a committee composed of representatives of the Municipality of Chiaravalle, the Montessori Foundation, of the Montessori National Opera and the International Montessori Association, under the honorary presidency of Carolina Montessori, great-granddaughter of Maria. The reopening of Casa Montessori, scheduled for October 2020, will transform it into a space dedicated to exploring 360 degrees the multifaceted figure of the scientist. Visitors will be able to discover the many facets of her personality, getting in touch not only with the method that made her famous in the world, but also with the various aspects of her life. The exhibition will offer a direct experience of teaching materials and multisensory approaches that characterize Montessori pedagogy, highlighting the beauty, harmony and all-round sensory stimulations that these educational tools offer.