Giovanni Boccaccio (13/2-1375) is consiclered, along with Dante and Fetrarch, the father of Italian literature. Me wrote a number of works; the most important is the Decameron, a hundred tales connected by a unifying framework. The sense of adventure and play the exaltation of intelligence and hurnan cleverness, reinforced by pro nouncecl sensitivity and skill in his use of language inake this work an enduring masterpiece, the first prose u’ork in the history ofitalian titerature. Boccaccio house Is an austere brick palace, halfuay along the street narnedfor hi;;z (Via Bocca edo) in C’ertaldo. The bare ftiade is topped by a loveiy loggìa on the attic overtook ing the spectacular lana’scape of the Valdelsa hilLv and a vast area up lo San Gimignano. The house Is now a nzuseun. The entrance leads mio the hall, where we flnd exhibits about Boccaccio v «fe and works, the historical tirnes in which he tivecl, and the “Borgo” where he livecl. In the rooms on the ground floor we can adrnire rare and rernarkable cditions of Boccaccio wories and the signatures of irnportant people who have visited the Mouse. We can atso watch a video about the «fe and works of this famous citizen of Certaldo, and about the activity of the National Giovanni Boccaccio Society, which is in charge of the museum. Upstairs is the large library, open to scholars, which contains a unique collection of works about Boccaccio una’ tra nslations in most of the world’s languages. An important selection of these books can be seen in a showcase in the frescoed room. This is the heart of the Mouse, where we can ailm ire a fresco by Pietro Benvenuti, a neoctasslcat painter The fresco was inade thanks lo Marchesa Carlotta Lenzoni dei Medicl, who baci the house restored and an important library installeci, which has grown over the decacles. Mounting the stairs to the attic, we can go out on the panoramic “loggia”.