Palazzo Panciatichi
Encyclopedia
Palazzo Panciatichi or Palazzo del Balì is a medieval building in Pistoia
, Tuscany
, central Italy
.
It was begun in 1320 by Vinciguerra Panciatichi, a rich Ghibelline (later Guelph) banker, as a fortified private residence. It has a stone façade with three floors (the lower with arches) ending with a large Renaissance gutter. Of the original Guelph merlons, only some can be seen on the eastern side. An uncommon feature of Italian contemporary architecture were the squared windows, which were more widespread in French
Gothic architecture
or in Aosta Valley at the time.
The interior houses a portico with a garden, a large staircase leading to the first floor, which has a hall with wooden ceiling, and a loggia.
The palace housed pope Alexander V
in 1409-1401 and Lorenzo de' Medici
's family in 1478. In 1500 it was burnt by Panciatichi family's enemies, and later restored. It took its nickname from Cellesi family, who had received the title of "balì" of the Order of St. Stephen
, and who resided here from 1579.
Palazzo Panciatichi was damaged by an Allied aerial bombing in 1943 and remained abandoned until its restoration in 1965-1967. It currently houses the council of the province of Pistoia
.
Pistoia
Pistoia is a city and comune in the Tuscany region of Italy, the capital of a province of the same name, located about 30 km west and north of Florence and is crossed by the Ombrone Pistoiese, a tributary of the River Arno.-History:...
, Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
It was begun in 1320 by Vinciguerra Panciatichi, a rich Ghibelline (later Guelph) banker, as a fortified private residence. It has a stone façade with three floors (the lower with arches) ending with a large Renaissance gutter. Of the original Guelph merlons, only some can be seen on the eastern side. An uncommon feature of Italian contemporary architecture were the squared windows, which were more widespread in French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
or in Aosta Valley at the time.
The interior houses a portico with a garden, a large staircase leading to the first floor, which has a hall with wooden ceiling, and a loggia.
The palace housed pope Alexander V
Antipope Alexander V
Alexander V was antipope during the Western Schism . He reigned from June 26, 1409, to his death in 1410 and is officially regarded by the Roman Catholic Church as an antipope....
in 1409-1401 and Lorenzo de' Medici
Lorenzo de' Medici
Lorenzo de' Medici was an Italian statesman and de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance. Known as Lorenzo the Magnificent by contemporary Florentines, he was a diplomat, politician and patron of scholars, artists and poets...
's family in 1478. In 1500 it was burnt by Panciatichi family's enemies, and later restored. It took its nickname from Cellesi family, who had received the title of "balì" of the Order of St. Stephen
Order of St. Stephen
Order of St. Stephen may refer to:* Holy Military Order of Saint Stephen Pope and Martyr, founded in 1561 by grand duke Cosimo I of Tuscany* The Royal Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen, founded in 1764 by queen Maria Theresa of Hungary...
, and who resided here from 1579.
Palazzo Panciatichi was damaged by an Allied aerial bombing in 1943 and remained abandoned until its restoration in 1965-1967. It currently houses the council of the province of Pistoia
Province of Pistoia
The Province of Pistoia is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Pistoia. It has an area of 965 km², and a total population of 268,503 . There are 22 communes in the province .-External links:...
.