On my first day in Rome, I toured the Keats-Shelley Museum, which is conveniently located at the bottom of the Spanish Steps. I am familiar with one of Keats’ most famous quotes, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” But full disclosure, even though I love to write poetry, I never really read theirs, except maybe a little of it in high school.
If you look closely (or I’ll point it out for you), the last time I posted on this blog was July, 2025, after I came home from my first — hopefully not last — trip to Italy and Paris. It’s now March 2026, and I’m not done writing about it. In between these dates, I suffered from a month-long bout of COVID and a very bad back (I wrote about this a little in my previous posts, but I didn’t think it would wipe me out this much).
It’s taken me this long to feel like myself again and to post, hoping that someone out there is enjoying these memories. I’m also hoping it at least starts you to think about your own dream trip — daydreaming and research are free, so when you’re ready, you can go! As I sit in a bookstore writing and reflecting on those two weeks, I’m excited to be back where I feel like I truly belong.
As a writer, there’s no way I’m going to be this close to such an important museum about other writers and not go in and support it. The Keats-Shelley museum is the house in which John Keats died — when he was only 25 years old! I am sure if I read their works, I would have gotten more out of the museum, but even without that knowledge, I adored this place.
You should know that you have to walk up some stairs to get to the museum, and I don’t remember an elevator. There is a bathroom, but you must ask to use it. The staff is extremely kind. There are also a few places to sit down, thankfully. Then you can take pictures like these:
No matter who writes it, one of my favorite things to see is any manuscript; the older the cooler — to me, anyway. Depending on your level of interest in Keats and Shelley, you could spend up to a couple of hours perusing the memorabilia.
Keats-Shelley Ticket Tips
You do not need to purchase a ticket ahead of time to get into the Keats-Shelley museum, but you can on their website if it makes it easier. When I visited in late May, it wasn’t very busy, but that might not always be the case. It was extremely affordable — Adults (up to the age of 65) €7; under 18s and 65s or over €5. They do have a souvenir shop and, of course, I bought postcards.
Another tip: Keep your receipts. Some venues work with other venues, so if you go to one, you get a discount on the other. For more information, including hours and special events such as poetry readings and workshops, visit the Keats-Shelley Museum’s website.
