Palazzo Ducale is a large palace in Modena, located in Piazza Roma, in the northern part of the historical center of the city. The Ducal Palace of Modena, one of the most important Baroque structures in Italy, was the seat of the House of Este between the 17th and 19th centuries. Subsequently, since the Italian unification, Palazzo Ducale housed the prestigious Military Academy of Modena (Accademia Militare di Modena). SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO DUCALE Palazzo Ducale was built starting with 1634 on the site of the ancient Este castle, which during the Middle Ages stood on the city limits and was connected to a navigable canal. The works, initially entrusted to the architect Gaspare Vigarani, were later continued by Bartolomeo Avanzini. The project was supervised by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. On June 25, 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Giuseppina Beauharnais, after their coronation as sovereigns of the Kingdom of Italy, entered Modena in triumph and lodged in the Ducal Palace, renamed during their visit as Palazzo Nazionale. Napoleon stayed only one day in the palace, but appropriated numerous works of art and goods from the Este collections. On September 8, 1943, during the Second World War, the building was Read more [...]
All Palaces
Reggia di Venaria Reale
Reggia di Venaria Reale (Palace of Venaria Reale) is one of the palaces of the House of Savoy, located in Venaria Reale. Reggia di Venaria Reale was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. In 2018, it recorded over 1 million visitors, making it the seventh most visited Italian museum. SHORT HISTORY OF REGGIA DI VENARIA REALE Around the middle of the 17th century, Carlo Emanuele II, Duke of Savoy, wanted to make a base for hunting trips in the Turin hills. For this, he chose an area in the Lanzo Valleys (Valli di Lanzo), favored by the proximity of the woods known as the Great Country (Gran Paese), very rich in game. He bought the two small villages of Altessano Superiore and Altessano Inferiore from the Birago family, and comissioned the construction of the complex to the architects Amedeo di Castellamonte and Michelangelo Garove. The works started in 1658 and were completed around 1675. After the French destroyed some buildings on October 1, 1693, Vittorio Amedeo II, son of Carlo Emanuele II, commissioned a further intervention to the palace. During the siege of 1706, when the French of Louis d’Aubusson de la Feuillade took up residence Read more [...]
Palazzo Vecchio
Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) is an imposing palace in Florence, located in Piazza della Signoria, near the Uffizi Gallery. SHORT HISTORY At the end of the 13th century, the city decided to build a palace in order to ensure effective protection for its magistrates. The project was attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio, architect of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and of the Basilica of Santa Croce. The palace, called Palazzo dei Priori, was built on the ruins of Palazzo dei Fanti and Palazzo dell’Esecutore di Giustizia, formerly owned by the Ghibelline family of the Uberti. Arnolfo di Cambio began the works in 1299, but the palace was completed after his death, in 1314. On March 26, 1302, the palace became the seat of the Signoria (the city council headed by the Priors). Between 1342 and 1343, the Duke of Athens, Gualtieri VI of Brienne, enlarged the palace towards Via della Ninna. Other important changes took place between 1440 and 1460 under Cosimo de’ Medici, when Sala dei Dugento was decorated in Renaissance style. Salone dei Cinquecento (Hall of the Five Hundred) was built in 1494 during the republic of Girolamo Savonarola. Between 1540 and 1550, Palazzo Vecchio Read more [...]
Palazzo Pubblico
Palazzo Pubblico, also known as Palazzo Comunale, is a medieval palace in Siena, located in the beautiful Piazza del Campo. Currently, the palace houses the Civic Museum of Siena on the first floor, and the city’s Town Hall on the second floor. SHORT HISTORY After the Council of Nine (Governo dei Nove) came to power in 1287, some ancient buildings in Piazza del Campo were purchased and subsequently demolished, to make room for a new public palace. The construction of Palazzo Pubblico began in 1297, and by 1310 the building was already completed. The tower of the palace, known as Torre del Mangia, was built between 1325 and 1348. By 1350, the second and the third floors of the central body, and the Loggia on the second floor facing Piazza del Mercato were also completed. The marble Cappella di Piazza (Chapel of the Square) was built in 1352 to thank the Virgin Mary for the end of the black plague that struck the city in 1348. The last floor of the palace was added only in 1680 by the architect Carlo Fontana. ARCHITECTURE The central body of the palace has four floors, while the two side wings have Read more [...]
Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale (Ducal Palace), also known as the Gonzaga Palace, is a large complex of historical buildings in Mantua, located in the beautiful Piazza Sordello. SHORT HISTORY Starting with 1308, Palazzo Ducale was the official residence of the lords of Mantua, belonging at first to the Bonacolsi family, until 1328, when it became the residence of the Gonzaga family, who ruled the city until 1707. Distinct buildings were built in different eras, starting with the 13th century, initially by the Bonacolsi family, and subsequently by the Gonzagas. It was Duke Guglielmo Gonzaga who commissioned the architect Giovan Battista Bertani to connect the various buildings into an organic form, to create starting from 1556 a single grandiose monumental and architectural complex, one of the largest in Europe, which stretched between the shore of Lake Inferiore and Piazza Sordello. Bertani died in 1576, and the work was continued by the architect Bernardino Facciotto, who completed the gardens, squares, arcades, galleries, exedras and courtyards, definitively fixing the appearance of the ducal palace. During the Gonzaga domination, the palace gradually expanded, both with the addition of new buildings and by modifying the existing ones. The complex includes Corte Vecchia (Old Court), composed of Read more [...]
Palazzo Te
Palazzo Te is a Renaissance palace located in the suburban area of Mantua. The complex is now the seat of the Civic Museum and since 1990 of the International Center of Art and Culture of Palazzo Te. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO TE When Francesco II Gonzaga died in 1519, his son, Federico II, became Marquis of Mantua, and decided to transform a swampy area south of the city into a place for leisure and festive receptions. The architect Giulio Romano, a pupil of Raphael, was commissioned to design the palace. By alternating the architectural elements with the natural ones that the area offered, sublimely decorating rooms and facades, the architect put all his imagination and skill in the construction of Palazzo Te. The palace was completed in 1534, 10 years after the beginning of the works. In July 1630, during the War of the Mantuan Succession, the palace was sacked over three days by an Imperial army of 36,000 mercenaries. Palazzo Te was looted and remained empty for a long time. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO TE Palazzo Te has a square plan, with a large courtyard in the center, which once hosted a labyrinth. The courtyard has four entrances Read more [...]
Basilica Palladiana
Basilica Palladiana is a palace in Vicenza, overlooking Piazza dei Signori, inextricably linked to the Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. The architect redesigned the Gothic Palazzo della Ragione by adding the loggias with the famous white marble serliane. A serliana, also known as a Palladian window, is an architectural motif popularized by Andrea Palladio, which consists of a window with three openings, the central one arched and wider than the lateral rectangular ones. Once the seat of the public magistrates of Vicenza, the Palladian Basilica is today equipped with three independent spaces, used to host architecture and art exhibitions. The building was included in 1994 in the UNESCO World Heritage Site City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto. SHORT HISTORY Palazzo della Ragione was built around the middle of the 15th century according to a project by Domenico da Venezia, incorporating two pre-existing public buildings. The Gothic facade of the palace was made of diamond-shaped red and yellow Verona marble, still visible behind the loggias. The building was the seat of the public magistrates of Vicenza and, on the ground floor, it housed a shop gallery. Adjacent to the building is the Bissara Tower, 82 meters in Read more [...]
Palazzo della Loggia
Palazzo della Loggia is a beautiful palace built in Renaissance style in Brescia, located in the square of the same name, today the seat of the city’s Municipal Council. SHORT HISTORY In 1484, the municipal authorities of Brescia decided to build a grandiose palace as an expression of good governance, replacing the original loggia and increasing the monumentality of Piazza della Loggia, which was rising at the time. The first project was presented by Tomaso Formentone, an architect from Vicenza. The project of Formentone involved the construction of a building entirely of wood, an option that was immediately abandoned. The first stone was laid in 1492 and the construction site was directed, between about 1495 and 1510, by Filippo Grassi. The works were interrupted in 1512 by the sack of Brescia, to resume only in 1549. The Loggia was completed in 1574 after numerous interventions by the most famous architects of the time, such as Jacopo Sansovino and Andrea Palladio, as well as Lodovico Beretta from Brescia. The latter was responsible for the large windows on the second floor. ARCHITECTURE The white Botticino marble facade of the palace is vertically composed of two distinct architectural sections. In the Read more [...]
Doge’s Palace
To get to know the supreme expression of Venetian culture, whether you are attracted to architecture, painting, sculpture or all together, a visit to the Doge’s Palace is imperative. Although we are often tempted to recommend the discovery of Venice on narrow streets and hidden canals, early in the morning or late in the evening, we can equally say that visiting Venice without seeing the Doge’s Palace, in the middle of the day, inside and outside, can be considered a missed visit. SHORT HISTORY Initially built of wood in the 9th century, the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) was rebuilt several times afterwards, acquiring the form we see today between 1340 and 1424, with the construction of the Great Council Chamber under the supervision of the architect Filippo Calendario. After that period, new constructions have been added to the palace, under the care of Giovanni and Bartolomeo Bon (father and son), of which we can remember the Porta della Carta, the main entrance that directs visitors to the inner courtyard. After a major fire that occurred in 1483, the inner courtyard will be rebuilt in a Renaissance style by architect Antonio Rizzo. The exterior of the white and pink marble Read more [...]
Palazzo Sturm
Palazzo Sturm, formerly known as Palazzo Ferrari and Palazzo Vanzo Mercante, is a palace in Bassano del Grappa. Today, Palazzo Sturm is best known for housing two key museums that capture the rich artisanal heritage of Bassano del Grappa – the Ceramics Museum (Museo della Ceramica) and the Remondini Print Museum (Museo della Stampa Remondini). SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO STURM Palazzo Sturm was built in the mid-18th century, in the area of Bassano del Grappa called Cornorotto. The palace incorporated a stretch of walls, a tower and a pre-existing nucleus of 15th-century buildings on the left bank of the Brenta River. The imposing structure, originally commissioned by Vincenzo Ferrari, an industrialist and silk merchant, was designed by the amateur architect Abbot Daniello Bernardi. The project included about seventy rooms of various sizes, distributed over seven levels. The upper floors, which constituted the master’s residence, also had some reception rooms, frescoed and decorated with stucco, with access via an imposing entrance. The lower floors, which had direct access to the Brenta River, housed the laboratories and workshops for the production of silk, as well as the servants’ quarters. In 1765, the Venetian painter Giorgio Anselmi elegantly decorated the ceiling and Read more [...]
Palazzo dell’Annunziata
Palazzo dell’Annunziata is a Rococo-style palace located in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, in Matera. The front part of the palace rests on the 16th-century tower of Castello Tramontano. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO DELL’ANNUNZIATA The palace was built starting with 1735 as the new Monastery dell’Annunziata for the Dominican nuns, as is written on the architrave of one of the entrances. The architect Vito Valentino from Bitonto was in charge of the project, with the approval of the Pontifical Commission of Rome. In 1734, the project was ready, and in 1735 the work was already proceeding at full speed. However, a strong friction appeared between the Dominican nuns and the architect Valentino, and in 1739 the works were suspended and Valentino was removed. In 1742, Mauro Manieri became the new architect, called directly from Lecce together with the Simone brothers, who took on the commitment to complete the work and build also a new church. Before the construction was completed, the nuns temporarily settled with other congregations. Only in 1747, the nuns came into possession of the new monastery, with the construction not yet finished and without the construction of the church. About a hundred years later, the nuns finally decided Read more [...]
Loggia and Odeo Cornaro
The Loggia and Odeo Cornaro are two Renaissance buildings in Padua, located in the eastern part of the historical center of the city, not far from the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua. The structures were part of a larger complex of buildings and gardens built by Alvise Cornaro in the first half of the 16th century, in the vast park of his residence. Of the original complex, only a rectangular courtyard of about 32 by 18 meters remains. The Loggia occupies the entire short side, while the Odeo stands in the center of the long side. SHORT HISTORY OF THE LOGGIA AND ODEO CORNARO The Loggia was desired by Alvise Cornaro as a physical expression of the idea of a humanist theater. The structure, designed by the architect and painter Giovanni Maria Falconetto from Verona, was built starting with 1524. The Odeo was built ten years after the Loggia, and it was the space intended for music and poetic recitations. Starting with 1540, the Odeo became the seat of the Academy of the Burning Ones (Accademia degli Infiammati), a philosophical and literary academy in Padua. ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE LOGGIA AND ODEO CORNARO The Loggia is Read more [...]
Palazzo Mocenigo Ca’ Vecchia
Palazzo Mocenigo Ca’ Vecchia is a palace in Venice, located in the sestiere (district) of San Marco, part of the architectural complex of Palazzi Mocenigo. The complex is composed of four palaces, with the three on the left known as Palazzi Mocenigo Ca’ Nova and the one on the right as Palazzo Mocenigo Ca’ Vecchia. Palazzo Mocenigo Ca’ Vecchia is located on the far right of the complex, overlooking the Grand Canal next to Palazzo Contarini delle Figure. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO MOCENIGO CA’ VECCHIA Despite the name of Ca’ Vecchia (Old House), it is the most recent building of the complex. Palazzo Mocenigo Ca’ Vecchia was built at the beginning of the 17th century, more precisely between 1623 and 1625, on a project by the architect Francesco Contin, on the site of an ancient structure dating back to the 15th century. Once in precarious conditions, it was recently renovated and divided into several properties. The facade, once yellow, is now painted white. Over time, the palace had prestigious guests, such as the Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno at the end of the 16th century, and the writer Thomas Moore and the poet Lord Byron at the beginning of the Read more [...]
Palazzo Mocenigo il Nero
Palazzo Mocenigo il Nero is a palace in Venice, located in the sestiere (district) of San Marco, part of the architectural complex of Palazzi Mocenigo. The complex is composed of four palaces, with the three on the left known as Palazzi Mocenigo Ca’ Nova and the one on the right as Palazzo Mocenigo Ca’ Vecchia. Palazzo Mocenigo il Nero is located on the far left of the complex, overlooking the Grand Canal next to Palazzo Corner Gheltof. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO MOCENIGO IL NERO In the second half of the 16th century, Palazzo Mocenigo il Nero replaced a previous structure dating back to the 15th century. The palace was mainly used for receptions, as evidenced by the large atrium and the monumental staircase. One of the most sumptuous celebrations was in honor of Doge Alvise Mocenigo, after winning the Battle of Lepanto. In 1716, Pisana Cornaro Mocenigo received Frederick Augustus III, the King of Poland, with a sumptuous party. At the beginning of the 20th century, the palace passed by inheritance to the Robilant family, who sold it after a short while. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO MOCENIGO IL NERO The facade of the palace is characterized by the three Read more [...]
Palazzo Corner Gheltof
Palazzo Corner Gheltof is a Gothic-style palace in Venice, located in the sestiere (district) of San Marco. The palace overlooks the Grand Canal between Fondaco Marcello and the complex of Palazzi Mocenigo. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO CORNER GHELTOF The construction date of the palace remains unknown. Palazzo Corner Gheltof was partially rebuilt in the 16th century. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO CORNER GHELTOFF The palace is characterized by the presence of two facades of different dates. The rear one, facing a large courtyard, still has Byzantine elements, including a well dating back to the 10th or 11th centuries, parapets with pointed arched balconies and an open staircase. The front facade overlooking Canal Grande, dating back to the end of the 16th century, is organized around a central axis made up of a water portal, a serliana (Palladian window) on the first noble floor and a quadrifora on the second noble floor. On the second noble floor, there are also two coats of arms. TIP: To admire every palace, church and bridge built on the Grand Canal, the best option is to take the waterbus Line 1 from Piazzale Roma, which will get you in about 45 minutes to San Read more [...]
Palazzo Tron a San Beneto
Palazzo Tron a San Beneto is a palace in Venice, located in the sestiere (district) of San Marco, not far from the Rialto Bridge. The palace overlooks the Grand Canal between Palazzo Corner Contarini dei Cavalli and Palazzo D’Anna Viaro Martinengo Volpi di Misurata. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO TRON A SAN BENETO The ground floor and the first floor of the palace were probably built in the 13th century, making it one of the oldest buildings on the Grand Canal. In the 15th century, Palazzo Tron a San Beneto was rebuilt under Nicolò Tron, the 68th Doge of Venice and the most famous bearer of the family name. At the beginning of the 17th century, the diplomat, politician and agronomist Nicoló Tron, named after his ancestor, left the palace to his son, Andrea Tron, the procurator of San Marco. When Chiara Tron, who was childless, died at the end of the 18th century, and the family branch of Tron a San Beneto died out, the property went in direct succession to the patrician family Donà Dalle Rose. Later, the palace, with the exception of the second floor, was sold to the Vivante merchant family. Around the middle of the Read more [...]
Palazzo Corner Contarini dei Cavalli
Palazzo Corner Contarini dei Cavalli is a palace in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Grimani di San Luca and Palazzo Tron. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO CORNER CONTARINI DEI CAVALLI Palazzo Corner Contarini dei Cavalli was built around the middle of 15th century on the site of an ancient building dating back to the 12th century. At the beginning of the 16th century, Bartolomeo d’Alviano resided in the palace. He was a captain who distinguished himself in the defence of the Venetian Republic against the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian. In 1521, the palace passed through marriage to the Contarini family, who kept it until 1830, when it was sold to the Mocenigo family. Later, the palace passed successively to the Ulbricht family, to the Cavalieri family and to the Ravenna family. Currently, the building houses offices of the Ministry of Justice. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO CORNER CONTARINI DEI CAVALLI The palace was built in Venetian-Gothic style, but has different architectural styles on its floors, as it was subject to various renovations over the centuries. The ground floor is covered with a 17th-century ashlar, with a central water portal which uses the Read more [...]
Palazzo Donà Balbi
Palazzo Donà Balbi is a palace in Venice, located in the Santa Croce district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal opposite Palazzo Flangini. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO DONÀ BALBI The palace was built in the 17th century, most likely by joining several adjacent buildings. Owned by the Province of Venice, the building is the current seat of the Regional Scholastic Office (Ufficio Scolastico Regionale). ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO DONÀ BALBI The sober plastered facade of the palace is divided into three parts. The right part is the main one, presenting the only access door and four-light windows with balconies on both noble floors. The other two parts are instead characterized by three single lancet windows. All the openings have round arches surmounted by cornices. On the ground floor, there were two secondary access doors, now closed. TIP: To admire every palace, church and bridge built on the Grand Canal, the best option is to take the waterbus Line 1 from Piazzale Roma, which will get you in about 45 minutes to San Marco Vallaresso, located near Piazza San Marco and the eastern end of the canal. And if you need more time to admire the scenery, take an enchanting Read more [...]
Palazzo Grimani di San Luca
Palazzo Grimani di San Luca is an imposing Renaissance-style palace in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal not far from the Rialto Bridge. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO GRIMANI DI SAN LUCA In March 1556, the noble Girolamo Grimani aquired a ruined palace on the Grand Canal owned by the brothers Bertuccio and Marino Contarini. In the summer of 1557, he decided to build a new palace on this site, and the project was given to the architect Michele Sanmicheli. In 1559, the ground floor was completed, but Sanmicheli died, and the direction of the construction was entrusted in 1561 to Giangiacomo de’ Grigi. The tasks of de’ Grigi was to complete the ground floor with a mezzanine, and to build the first and second floors. In November 1566, a dispute arose between Grimani and de’ Grigi, mainly in relation to the facade and the sum of money that the client still had to pay to the architect. The dispute was resolved thanks to the intervention of three illustrious architects – Andrea Palladio, Jacopo Sansovino and Pietro Guberni, who established what was still to be done, the cost and the date by which the Read more [...]
Palazzo Marcello
Palazzo Marcello is a palace in Venice, located in the Cannaregio district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Ca’ Vendramin Calergi and Palazzo Molin Erizzo. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO MARCELLO Around the middle of the 15th century, the palace belonged to the Molin della Maddalena family. At the time, the structure had only one noble floor, in addition to the mezzanine and the ground floor. The palace passed to the Marcello family in 1517 due to the marriage between Marco Antonio Marcello and Caterina Molin di Nadalin. Towards the end of the 17th century, Palazzo Marcello was rebuilt. The captain Lorenzo Marcello was born in the palace in 1603, and the composer Benedetto Marcello in 1686. In the palace, the English writer Frederick Rolfe died of a heart attack on October 25, 1913. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO MARCELLO On the two noble floors, the palace has two large five-light windows decorated with round arches. The five-light windows are flanked by pairs of sigle-light windows, also with rounded arches. The presence of the two water portals suggests that the building was used by two families. In addition to the portals, the ground floor has five rectangular windows. The mezzanine has Read more [...]
Palazzo Grimani Marcello
Palazzo Grimani Marcello, also known as Palazzo Vendramin Grimani, is a palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere). The palace overlooks the Grand Canal between Palazzo Cappello Layard and Palazzo Querini Dubois. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO GRIMANI MARCELLO Palazzo Grimani Marcello was built in the 18th century on the site of an ancient building dating back to the 12th century. In 1825, Carlo Bevilacqua frescoed the internal rooms. After a two-year renovation by the Foundation of the Golden Tree (Fondazione dell’Albero d’Oro), the palace was reopened to the public in 2021. Now, the visitors can admire the art collection inside the palace, which is also used for temporary exhibitions. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO GRIMANI MARCELLO The tripartite facade, decorated with numerous sculptural elements, is divided by pilasters with Corinthian capitals and covered entirely in white Istrian stone. The ground floor is characterized by the presence of a large water portal with a square arch and four openings with a triangular tympanum. The first noble floor is characterized by a three-mullioned window with a protruding balcony. On the second floor, the balustrade is on the facade line, and the columns dividing the window rest directly on the Read more [...]
Palazzo dell’Arengo
Palazzo dell’Arengo, known in the past as Palatium Comunis, is a palace in Rimini, located in Piazza Cavour, between Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo Garampi, in the historical center of the city. In the late Middle Ages, the council of the people of Rimini met in the palace. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO DELL’ARENGO The loggia of Palazzo dell’Arengo was erected in 1204 by the podestà (chief magistrate) of Rimini, Mario de Carbonesi. The fact is remebered by an epigraph on one of the pillars of the loggia. The palace was restored several times, in 1562, in 1672, and between 1919 and 1923. The original construction was profoundly altered by these renovations. Today, Palazzo dell’Arengo, together with the adjacent Palazzo del Podestà, houses the new Museum of Contemporary Art of the City – PART, Palazzi dell’Arte Rimini. ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO DELL’ARENGO Palazzo dell’Arengo has a facade in Romanesque-Gothic style, surmounted by battlements, with a large loggia on the ground floor. The loggia is set on a massive colonnade which supports pointed arches. On the upper floor, there is a large hall with mullioned windows (Sala dell’Arengo), in which are preserved frescoes of the Rimini school from the Read more [...]
Palazzo del Podestà
Palazzo del Podestà is a medieval palace in Rimini, located in Piazza Cavour, between Palazzo dell’Arengo and the Amintore Galli Theater. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO DEL PODESTÀ The palace was built in 1334, more than a century after Palazzo dell’Arengo, and was the seat of the podestà, the chief magistrate of the city of Rimini. The palace undergone considerable transformations over the years. Between 1912 and 1922, it was restored by the architect Gaspare Rastrelli. Since 2020, Palazzo del Podestà, together with the adjacent Palazzo dell’Arengo, houses the new Museum of Contemporary Art of the City – PART, Palazzi dell’Arte Rimini. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO DEL PODESTÀ The palace has a Gothic facade with three pointed arches on the ground floor and five small windows on the upper floor. The facade is surmounted by battlements. HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO DEL PODESTÀ Palazzo del Podestà is located about 900 meters away from the Rimini railway station. The closest bus stop is Duomo, about 450 meters away, on the bus Line 1.
Palazzo Massani
Palazzo Massani is a Neoclassical palace in Rimini, located across the street from the city’s Cathedral, Tempio Malatestiano. Today, the palace houses the offices of the Prefecture. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO MASSANI Palazzo Massani was built at the end of the 19th century for the nobleman Guglielmo Massani, a great benefactor of the poor. The construction of the palace was entrusted to Ghinelli di Santarcangelo, who designed the structure in Neoclassical style. During the Second World War, the palace was badly damaged by bombings. After the war, it was the subject of a hasty and incomplete reconstruction. Recently, the palace was restored by Paolo Beltrambini. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO MASSANI The main facade of the palace overlooking Via IV Novembre has three floors. On the ground floor, there are six large windows, with a large portal in the center. The portal is surmounted by a balcony. Each of the two upper floors has nine rectangular windows. On the second floor, the windows have round pediments, while the windows on the third floor are surmounted by a cornice. Inside, we can find the remains of an ancient Roman domus (house), with a floor in pink marble slabs, and an 18th-century Read more [...]
Ca’ del Duca
Ca’ del Duca is a palace in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal next to Palazzo Falier. SHORT HISTORY OF CA’ DEL DUCA The construction project of the palace was entrusted to Bartolomeo Bon by Marco Cornaro, father of Caterina Cornaro, the last monarch of the Kingdom of Cyprus. Unfinished, the palace was sold in 1461 to Francesco Sforza, who entrusted its grandiose reconstruction to Antonio Averulino. However, before the project could be implemented, Ca’ del Duca was expropriated due to the rivalry appeared between the Republic of Venice and the Duchy of Milan. A second renovation project was entrusted to Jacopo Sansovino by Vittore Grimani, the Procurator of San Marco, but this project too remained only on paper. In 1618, Alfonso de la Cueva-Benavides y Mendoza-Carrillo, a Spanish nobleman who went to Venice as ambassador, settled in the palace. Soon after, he was forced to flee because he was involved in the Bedmar Conspiracy against the Serenissima. During the 1620s, the palace was used as a studio by Titian, who worked here on many of the canvases intended for the decoration of the Doge’s Palace. In 2011, Ca’ del Duca hosted the Read more [...]
Palazzo Balbi
Palazzo Balbi is a Renaissance palace in Venice, located in the sestiere (district) of Dorsoduro, overlooking the Grand Canal between Ca’ Foscari and Palazzo Caotorta Angaran. Palazzo Balbi is the official seat of the President of the Veneto Region and of the Regional Council. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO BALBI Palazzo Balbi was built in the second half of the 16th century, to a design by Alessandro Vittoria, to be the residence of the Balbi family. The construction of the palace started in 1582 and was completed in 1590. Many restorations followed over the years, including that of 1737 commissioned by Lorenzo Balbi, and a subsequent one which saw the addition of the works by Jacopo Guarana. In 1807, Napoleon Bonaparte was hosted in the palace, and was able to attend from its balcony the regatta organized in his honor. Over the years, the palace was often rented out, to other families from the Venetian patriciate – the Pisanis, the Valmaranas and the Biondis. In 1887, Palazzo Balbi passed to Michelangelo Guggenheim, who chose it as the seat of his Industrial Arts Laboratories, modernized it and brought there his personal art collection. In 1925, the palace passed to the Adriatic Read more [...]
Palazzo Cappello Layard
Palazzo Cappello Layard is a palace in Venice, located in the sestiere (district) of San Polo, overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Barbarigo della Terrazza and Palazzo Grimani Marcello. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO CAPPELLO LAYARD The palace was built in the 16th century and renovated during the same century according to the styles of Renaissance architecture at the behest of its owner, Antonio Cappello, the procurator of San Marco. At the end of the 19th century, the building became the residence of the English ambassador Austen Henry Layard. Layard, a distinguished archaeologist who became famous for the discovery of the city of Nineveh, moved his vast collection of Italian Renaissance paintings into the palace. Later, after his death, the art collection was donated by his wife to the National Gallery in London. Lady Layard died in 1912, and the palace was bought by the Carnelutti family and became the residence of the jurist Francesco Carnelutti. In 1967, Palazzo Cappello Layard passed to the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Currently, the palace houses the headquarters of the Department of Asia and Mediterranean Africa Studies of the university. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO CAPPELLO LAYARD The palace has three facades. The facade Read more [...]
Ca’ da Mosto
Ca’ da Mosto is one of the oldest palaces in Venice and the oldest palazzo on the Grand Canal, located in the sestiere (district) of Cannaregio, not far from the Rialto Bridge. SHORT HISTORY OF CA’ DA MOSTO The palace was built in the 13th century in Venetian-Byzantine style, when the da Mosto family became part of the Venetian patriciate. In the palace, the famous explorer Alvise Cadamosto was born and died. Between 1454 and 1462, he worked in Portugal for the prince Henry the Navigator. From the 16th century to the end of the 18th century, the palace was used as a hotel. Later, the structure was raised by two floors. After a recent renovation, Ca’ da Mosto is again a hotel, The Venice Venice Hotel. ARCHITECTURE OF CA’ DA MOSTO In particular, Ca’ da Mosto represents one of the best preserved examples of a Venetian warehouse, and more generally of the Venetian-Byzantine architecture which developed in the lagoon during the 12th and 13th centuries. Initially, the facade developed on two floors and was flanked by towers. When the building was raised by another two floors, the towers were demolished. The building has numerous characteristic elements of Read more [...]
Palazzo Molin Erizzo
Palazzo Molin Erizzo, also known as Palazzo Erizzo alla Maddalena, is a Gothic palace in Venice, located in the Cannaregio district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Marcello and Palazzo Soranzo Piovene. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO MOLIN ERIZZO The building where the current palace stands today was bought in 1454 by the Molin family, also owners of the adjacent Palazzo Marcello. Shortly after the purchase, the Molin family began the works for the elevation of the structure and for a new facade. In 1650, the palace passed to the Erizzo family following the marriage between Giacomo Erizzo and Cecilia Molin. Over time, the palace underwent numerous renovations, which led to the rearrangement of the ground floor and the mezzanine. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO MOLIN ERIZZO The facade of the palace has a Gothic layout, due to the numerous pointed arch windows, among which the five-light window on the main floor stands out. Inside, the noble floor (piano nobile) is decorated with 18th-century works, among which the most famous are by Andrea Celesti. HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO MOLIN ERIZZO Palazzo Molin Erizzo is located about 1 kilometers away from the Santa Lucia railway station. The closest vaporetto Read more [...]
Palazzo Giustinian Recanati
Palazzo Giustinian Recanati is a palace in Venice, located in the Dorsoduro district (sestiere), on Fondamenta delle Zattere al Ponte Longo, overlooking the Giudecca Canal (Canale della Giudecca). The palace is located a few meters away from Palazzo Clary. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO GIUSTINIAN RECANATI Palazzo Giustinian Recanati was built in the 16th century for a branch of the Giustinian family, linked by marriage to the Morosini family. In the 17th century, the palace passed to the Recanati family, originally from Badia Polesine, a new member of the Venetian patriciate. Today, the well preserved palace still belongs to the descendants of the Giustinian Recanati family. ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO GIUSTINIAN RECANATI The facade of Palazzo Giustinian Recanati spreads over three floors – a ground floor, a noble floor (piano nobile) and an attic. On the ground floor, there is a large portal surmounted by the stone coat of arms of the Giustinian family. On the noble floor, there are arched openings accompanied by stone balconies inscribed in rectangular frames. Two pairs of single-light windows flank a large central four-light window supported by small Ionic columns. The attic, surmounted by a indented cornice, has a series of eight Read more [...]
Palazzo Clary
Palazzo Clary, also known as Palazzo Clary-Ficquelmont, is a palace in Venice, located in the Dorsoduro district (sestiere), on Fondamenta delle Zattere, overlooking the Giudecca Canal (Canale della Giudecca). SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO CLARY Palazzo Clary was built in the 17th century. In the 19th century, the palace became the property of the noble Franco-Austrian family of the counts of Ficquelmont, and later of their heirs, the Austrian princes of Clary and Aldringen. The second noble floor of the palace was the historical seat of the Consulate of France, where until 1991 there was the famous red telephone line which connected the United States of America to Russia. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO CLARY The facade of the palace, in late Renaissance style, spreads over three floors, plus an attic. On the ground floor, there is a large rectangular portal, surmounted by two sculpted coats of arms. The first noble floor features round arched openings – a pair of single lancet windows on each side of a large central four-light window. The four-light window of the first noble floor is supported by columns with Ionic capitals and equipped with a stone balustrade embellished with small statues depicting lions. The second Read more [...]
Ospedale degli Incurabili
Ospedale degli Incurabili (Hospital for the Incurable) is a large palace in Venice, located in the Dorsoduro district (sestiere), on Fondamenta delle Zattere. Today, the palace is the headquarters of the Venice Academy of Fine Arts (Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia). SHORT HISTORY OF OSPEDALE DEGLI INCURABILI By the end of the 15th century, hospitals were founded in many Italian cities for those suffering from syphilis, which was then considered incurable. In 1517, the noblewomen Maria Malipiero and Marina Grimani created a small shelter in Venice for three women plagued by this new disease. The Venetian hospital was founded in 1522 by Gaetano Thiene. In 1531, Girolamo Emiliani took over the management of the hospital. At the beginning, the hospital buildings were made of wood. Only at the end of the 16th century, the hospital was rebuilt in bricks. The institution was hit by a financial crisis in 1755, which was followed by the crisis of all Venetian hospitals in 1775. In 1782, by decree of the Senate, Ospedale degli Incurabili passed to a new administration entirely at the expense of the state. In 1807, it became the most important civic hospital of the city. Starting with February Read more [...]
Palazzo Pisani Gritti
Palazzo Pisani Gritti is a Gothic palace in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Ferro Fini and Campiello Traghetto. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO PISANI GRITTI Palazzo Pisani Gritti was built in the 14th century. In 1475, it was redesigned in Venetian-Gothic style for the Pisani family. In 1525, the palace became the private residence of the Doge of Venice, Andrea Gritti. The palace was owned for a long period of time by the Gritti family, and later became the residence of the Vatican ambassadors to Venice. In the 19th century, it became the property of the Baroness Susanna d’Eyb, widow of the Baron Wetzlar. During this period, John Ruskin and his young wife Ettie spent a long period in the palace, where he wrote his famous book The Stones of Venice. At the beginning of the 20th century, after a meticulous renovation, Palazzo Pisani Gritti was turned into a hotel. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO PISANI GRITTI Palazzo Pisani Gritti has four floors, with a very low ground floor and three noble floors, all in Gothic style. The two central floors have four single-light windows and one elegant pentafora (five-light window) in Read more [...]
Palazzo Giustinian Persico
Palazzo Giustinian Persico is a palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Rio di San Tomà and Palazzo Tiepolo Passi. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO GIUSTINIAN PERSICO Palazzo Giustinian Persico was built in the first decades of the 16th century for the noble Giustinian family, one of the most important and ancient Venetian families. The Persico family, originally from Bergamo, joined the Venetian patriciate on March 18, 1685, after the usual payment of 100,000 ducats to the Serenissima. Not long after its construction, the palace passed to the Persico family. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO GIUSTINIAN PERSICO The palace is one of the first Venetian structures built in Renaissance style. The facade of the palace, inspired by the work of Mauro Codussi, dates back to the 16th century. The facade is characterized by a lively red plaster on which two superimposed central four-light windows stand out, flanked by pairs of single-lancet windows. The frames of the windows are very valuable and most of them have a balcony. The rear facade of the building, architecturally not very interesting, overlooks a large garden. HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO GIUSTINIAN PERSICO The palace is located Read more [...]
Palazzo Tiepolo Passi
Palazzo Tiepolo Passi, also known as Palazzetto Tiepolo or Palazzo Tiepoletto Passi, is a palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal, between Palazzo Soranzo Pisani and Palazzo Giustinian Persico. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO TIEPOLO PASSI Palazzo Tiepolo Passi has a narrow and tall shape spread over four levels. However, only the first noble floor has architectural merits. The ground floor has a stone base and a water portal with architrave positioned on the right of the facade. The first noble floor has, on the left, a small balcony with a mullioned window with trefoil arches, separated by a central column. On the right of the facade, there are two single-lancet windows also with trefoil arches. The other floors have four openings corresponding to the windows below. HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO TIEPOLO PASSI The palace is located about 1.1 kilometers on foot from the Santa Lucia railway station. The closest vaporetto stop is San Toma, about 200 meters away, on the waterbus Lines 1 and 2.
Palazzo Soranzo Pisani
Palazzo Soranzo Pisani is a palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Tiepolo and Palazzo Tiepolo Passi. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO SORANZO PISANI The facade of the palace is a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance styles. The ground floor, without mezzanine, has a water portal of modest dimensions, positioned towards the left side of the facade. The first noble floor has a central five-lancet window and two pairs of lateral single-lancet windows, all with an indented frame. The single-lancet windows have balconies. The second noble floor follows the openings of the first floor, but the windows have round arches, and there is a small balcony placed in front of the three central lights of the pentafora (five-light window). HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO SORANZO PISANI Palazzo Soranzo Pisani is located about 1.1 kilometers on foot from the Santa Lucia railway station. The closest vaporetto stop is San Toma, about 200 meters away, on the waterbus Lines 1 and 2.
Palazzo Tiepolo
Palazzo Tiepolo is a Renaissance palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Soranzo Pisani and Palazzo Pisani Moretta. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO TIEPOLO Palazzo Tiepolo was built around the middle of the 16th century on the site of an ancient structure, probably of Venetian-Byzantine origin. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO TIEPOLO The facade of the palace, in early Renaissance style, is divided by three stringcourses and spread over four levels: ground floor, two noble floors and a mezzanine. The ground floor is characterized by the presence of twin arched portals in the center. On each of the noble floors, there is a quadrifora (four-light window) with central arches and a balcony. On the sides of the quadrifora, there are two pairs of single-lancet windows in the same style, without a balcony. On the facade, there are still visible the remains of the frescoes made by Andrea Meldola, also known as the Schiavone. Above the eaves line, there is a dormer. The interior of the palace is decorated with polychrome stuccos, while the portego (porch) is embellished with valuable frescoes by Jacopo Guarana. HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO TIEPOLO The palace Read more [...]
Palazzo Pisani Moretta
Palazzo Pisani Moretta is a Gothic palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Barbarigo della Terrazza and Palazzo Tiepolo. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO PISANI MORETTA Palazzo Pisani Moretta was built in the second half of the 15th century by the Bembo family. In 1629, the palace became the residence of a branch of the noble Pisani family, the Pisani Morettas, whose name derives from the mispronunciation of Almorò Pisani, founder of the family. Later, the palace was owned by Francesco Pisani Moretta, the last male descendant of the family. In 1737, the building passed to the daughter of Francesco, Chiara, who married a member of the Pisani dal Banco family. Chiara restructured the building by demolishing the external staircase and replacing it with the grand staircase by Andrea Tirali, and had the internal rooms frescoed by the most popular painters of her era. Chiara’s son, Vettor, secretly married the bourgeois Teresa Dalla Vedova and had a son with her, named Pietro, not recognized by his father. Vettor also had a second wife and a second daughter, who married Filippo Barbarigo. As the two lived in adjacent residences, the palaces were Read more [...]
Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal
Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal, also known as Palazzo Donà dalle Trezze, is a palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Papadopoli and Palazzo Donà della Madoneta. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO DONÀ A SANT’APONAL The Donà family, which still exists today, was among the families who founded Venice at the beginning of the 9th century. Built around the middle of the 13th century at the behest of the Donà family, Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal is one of the oldest in Venice. In 1314, it was owned by a certain Michele Zancani, who accurately described it in his will and divided it among his four or five children. In the 15th century, the palace was completely restructured. Other interventions dating back to the 17th century removed all the references to the original appearance of the building. ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO DONÀ A SANT’APONAL The original building was known for its grandeur. The facade was 21 meters long, while the palace extended inwards for about 60 meters. The facade of the palace overlooking the Grand Canal had nine imposing vaults, five of which were used as warehouses and four for storing wines. The Read more [...]
Palazzo Boldù a San Felice
Palazzo Boldù a San Felice, also known as Palazzo Boldù Ghisi, is a palace in Venice, located in the Cannaregio district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzetto Da Lezze and Palazzo Contarini Pisani. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO BOLDÙ A SAN FELICE Palazzo Boldù a San Felice was built during the 16th century at the behest of the Boldù family. Towards the end of the 17th century, the palace became the property of the Ghisi family, who rebuilt it. Subsequently, the palace was purchased by the Contarini family, owners of the adjacent Palazzo Contarini Pisani. The Contarini family wanted to unify the two buildings, but the project never went through. ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO BOLDÙ A SAN FELICE The facade of the palace is asymmetrical, with the main openings to the right. The ground floor is covered with rustic ashlar, while the upper floors are plastered with Istrian stone. On the first noble floor, there is a serliana (Palladian or Venetian window), while on the second noble floor there is a trifora of equal width. The left side of the facade has on each floor a pair of single-lancet windows. Inside, are worth mentioning the frescoes in Read more [...]
Palazzo Papadopoli
Palazzo Papadopoli, also known as Palazzo Coccina Tiepolo Papadopoli, is a palace in Venice, located in the San Polo district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Giustinian Businello and Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal, opposite Palazzo Grimani di San Luca. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO PAPADOPOLI Palazzo Papadopoli was built in the second half of the 16th century on a piece of land which previously housed some buildings dating back to the 14th century. The palace was commissioned by the Coccina family from Bergamo, who moved to Venice to became part of the Venetian patriciate, to Giangiacomo dei Grigi, also from Bergamo, son of the more famous architect Guglielmo dei Grigi. The construction of the palace probably started in 1560 and the building was completed around 1570. Palazzo Papadopoli housed a rich collection of canvases, some of them by Paolo Veronese, among which the most famous is The presentation of the Coccina family to the Virgin. After beeing the residence of the Coccina family for many years, Palazzo Papadopoli was sold to Francesco d’Este, Duke of Modena, and in 1748 to the Tiepolo family. In 1745, the remaining part of the art gallery was sold to the Elector of Saxony Read more [...]
Palazzo Grassi
Palazzo Grassi, also known as Palazzo Grassi-Stucky, is a palace in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal. The palace is the last patrician residence built on the Grand Canal before the collapse of the Republic of Venice at the end of the 18th century. SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO GRASSI The land on which Palazzo Grassi stands today was purchased in several phases by the Grassi family between 1732 and 1745. The work on the new building began in 1748, a fact confirmed by a document dating back to that year. The palace was completed in 1772, the year of Paolo Grassi’s death. Between 1840 and 1875, due to the rapid and complete extinction of the Grassi family, the palace had four different owners. In 1840, Palazzo Grassi was sold to the Venetian commercial company of Spiridione Papadopoli, and in 1844 to the opera tenor Antonio Poggi. Almost immediately, Poggi sold the palace to the Hungarian József Agost Shöfft, an internationally renowned painter, and after his death the building was inherited by Giuseppina Lindlau, his second wife. In 1857, the building was sold to a wealthy Greek financier, Baron Simone de Sina, who made Read more [...]
Palazzo Civico
Palazzo Civico (Civic Palace), known in the past as Palazzo di Città (City Palace), is a Baroque palace in Turin, the current seat of the city’s Town Hall. Palazzo Civico overlooks Piazza Palazzo di Città, the square which, until the 18th century, was known as Piazza delle Erbe, for the vegetable market held there. SHOT HISTORY OF PALAZZO CIVICO In 1659, the architect Francesco Lanfranchi was comissioned to design the new seat of the city’s Town Hall. The first stone was laid during the same year by the Archbishop of Turin, Giulio Cesare Bergera, in the presence of Duke Carlo Emanuele II and his mother, Christine of France. The building was completed in 1663. On the occasion of the inauguration of the palace, a great reception was held for the wedding of Duke Carlo Emanuele II with the Princess of France Françoise Madeleine d’Orléans. Two years later, following the death of Christine of France in 1663, and of Françoise Madeleine d’Orléans in 1664, the palace hosted the second wedding of Carlo Emanuele II, with Marie Jeanne Baptiste of Savoy-Nemours. In the following century, the building was extensively remodeled by Benedetto Alfieri, who added two wings, one facing Via Giuseppe Read more [...]
Palazzo Soliano
Palazzo Soliano is a medieval palace in Orvieto, located in Piazza del Duomo, near the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. The palace, also known as Palazzo di Boniface VIII, because was built by the will of Pope Boniface VIII, houses the Emilio Greco Museum (Museo Emilio Greco) and the Opera del Duomo Museum – MODO (Museo dell’Opera del Duomo). SHORT HISTORY Palazzo Soliano was built starting with 1297, at the behest of Pope Boniface VIII. The construction was interrupted in 1303, after the pope’s death. Starting with 1330, after a period of abandonment, the palace was used for the storage of materials for the construction site of the cathedral. In 1361, a fire caused serious damage to the palace. In 1493, on the occasion of the arrival in Orvieto of Pope Alexander VI, the structure was consolidated. During those times, the palio of Orvieto was held in Piazza del Duomo. In 1504, due to a large number of people who watched the palio from the terrace of Palazzo Soliano, the roof of the palace collapsed. Thirty years later, due to the risks of collapse, the entire structure was subjected to numerous modifications. Over the centuries, the palace underwent numerous Read more [...]
Palazzo Carignano
Palazzo Carignano is a large palace in Turin, located between Piazza Carignano and Piazza Carlo Alberto, in the historical center of the city. Together with Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) and Palazzo Madama, Palazzo Carignano was placed in 1997 on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy. Today, the palace houses on the ground floor the offices of the regional directorate of the museums of Piedmont, and on the noble floor the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento (Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano). SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO CARIGNANO Palazzo Carignano was commissioned by Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Carignano, to the architect Guarino Guarini, one of the greatest exponents of Piedmontese Baroque. The work began in 1679, under the direction of Guarini’s collaborator, Gian Francesco Baroncelli, and was completed in 1685. In 1831, Carlo Alberto became the King of Sardinia, and the palace was ceded to the State Property, which housed here the Council of State and the Post Office. Starting with 1848, the palace was used as the seat of the Chamber of Deputies of the Subalpine Parliament. On this occasion, the architect Carlo Sada modified the splendid ballroom, located Read more [...]
Palazzo Lenzi
Palazzo Lenzi is a palace in Florence, located in Piazza Ognissanti, in the western part of the historical center of the city. SHORT HISTORY The palace was built around the year 1470 by the Lenzi family on a design by an unknown architect. The Lenzi family resided in the palace until the middle of the 17th century, when the palace was bought by the Buini family, who modernized the interior. In 1765, the palace passed to the Quaratesi family. In the 19th century, Palazzo Lenzi was used as a hotel, under the name of Locanda di Russia. Around the middle of the 19th century, the whole area changed its appearance, with the construction of Palazzo Giuntini and the Hotel Excelsior. At the end of the 19th century, the palace was purchased by the antiquarian Luigi Pisani, who began a series of important restorations. The works were supervised by the architect Luigi Del Moro and the painter Pietro Baldancoli. After the restorations were completed, Luigi Pisani placed his art and antiques gallery in the palace. In 1908, the palace became the seat of the French Institute of the University of Grenoble. Then, in 1912, it became the seat of the Read more [...]
Palazzo Corsini al Parione
Palazzo Corsini al Parione is one of the most sumptuous private palaces in Florence, located on the homonymous Lungarno Corsini, halfway between Ponte Santa Trinita and Ponte alla Carraia. SHORT HISTORY Until the 16th century, there were various buildings on this area, the most important of them being the Casino del Parione and the house of the lawyer Tommaso Compagni, decorated by a fresco with the Nine Muses by Bernardino Poccetti. The land was owned first by the Marquis of Marignano, then by Giovanni de’ Medici, son of Cosimo I and Eleonora degli Albizi. In 1621, the property passed to Cardinal Giovan Carlo de’ Medici, and in 1640 it was sold to Maddalena Machiavelli, mother of Bartolomeo Corsini. Bartolomeo Corsini began the construction of a new building in 1656, initially with the contribution of the architect Alfonso Parigi the Younger, who was succeeded later by Ferdinando Tacca, and by Pierfrancesco Silvani. After Silvani’s death in 1685, the work was continued by Antonio Maria Ferri, who gave the current appearance to the structure: the three bodies articulated around a central courtyard, the monumental staircase and the facade on Lungarno Corsini. Today, the palace is still partly inhabited by the descendants Read more [...]
Palazzo Gianfigliazzi Bonaparte
Palazzo Gianfigliazzi Bonaparte is a palace in Florence, located on Lungarno Corsini, about 60 meters away from Ponte Santa Trinita. SHORT HISTORY Until the end of the 18th century, Palazzo Gianfigliazzi Bonaparte was the property of the noble Gianfigliazzi family, who also owned the adjacent Palazzo Gianfigliazzi. In 1825, the palace was bought by Louis Bonaparte, the younger brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the former King of Holland in exile. Later, the palace was used as a hotel called Delle Quattro Nazioni (Of the Four Nations). In 1827, as a plaque on the facade recalls, the Italian writer and poet Alessandro Manzoni lived there for a month. Around the middle of the 19th century, the palace was owned by the Lamporecchi family, who sold it to the Belgian Van der Linden d’Hooghvorst. At that time, the building was restored by the architect Bartolommeo Silvestri, who rearranged the windows on the facade and closed the panoramic loggia on the top floor. Changes were also made to the interior, where the halls were renovated to host sumptuous receptions. At the end of the 19th century, Palazzo Gianfigliazzi Bonaparte was sold to the Cesaroni Venanzi family. Today, it belongs to the Campodonico Read more [...]
Palazzo Gianfigliazzi
Palazzo Gianfigliazzi is a palace in Florence, located on Lungarno Corsini, about 50 meters away from Ponte Santa Trinita. SHORT HISTORY The palace was built by the Ruggerini family in the 13th century, then passed to the Fastelli-Petribuoni family. At the beginning of the 15th century, it became the property of the Gianfigliazzi family. In the 17th century, the palace was renovated by the architect Gherardo Silvani. Towards the middle of the following century, it was rented to Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern, wife of Charles Edward Stuart, pretender to the English throne. In 1853, the building passed to the Masetti family, who enlarged it by one floor and changed the arrangement of the windows on the facade. Today, Palazzo Gianfigliazzi belongs to a real estate company, and houses the 4-Star hotel Palazzo Alfieri Residenza d’Epoca. HOW TO GET THERE Palazzo Gianfigliazzi is located about 1 kilometer away from the Santa Maria Novella railway station. The closest bus stop is Frescobaldi, located in Piazza de’ Frescobaldi, about 180 meters away, on the bus Lines 11, C3 and C4.
Palazzo della Borsa
Palazzo della Borsa is a large palace in Florence, located on Lungarno Diaz, about 100 meters away from the Uffizi Gallery. SHORT HISTORY The area in which the palace currently stands was occupied until the mid-19th century by Tiratoio delle Grazie, an edifice belonging to the guild of Arte della Lana (Wool Art). When the ancient guilds were dissolved by the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo, the site was chosen for a large building suitable for housing the Chamber of Commerce, the Stock Exchange and the Tuscan National Bank. Palazzo della Borsa was built between 1858 and 1860 on a project by the young architect Michelangelo Maiorfi, reworked with significant changes by Emilio De Fabris. Around 1915, the entrance from Piazza dei Giudici was opened, and some internal works were carried out based on a project by the architect Ugo Giusti. An intervention by the architect Ezio Cerpi, which led to the raising of the entire attic, thus obtaining the second floor and bringing the structure to its current volume, is dated to 1931. The smooth plaster on the facade and the construction of a large hall in the eastern side of the palace, intended for the Stock Exchange, date Read more [...]
