Pergola’s main noble palazzi
Pergola’s noble palazzi reveal the extraordinary skill of the town’s craftsmen and artists along with the tastes of its rich population.
Pergola’s main noble palazzi
Strolling through the streets of the historic centre, one only has to look up to admire refined decorated windows, portals and bas-reliefs.
Palazzo Giannini
This is the most impressive of Pergola’s noble palazzi It was built in the first half of the 18th century by the counts Cini before they moved to Venice in 1749.
In 1785 ownership passed to the Monastery of Fonte Avellana which used the building as a summer residence for novices. In 1866 it was confiscated from the Camaldolese order by the Kingdom of Italy and became property of the municipality. Palazzo Giannini was home to Raffaele Piccinini, an Avellanite monk and a distinguished geologist who lived there until his death in 1884.
The building was used as a primary school until 1961 before finally being restored and acquiring its current splendour. It contains several rooms including a private chapel. In the main hall of the noble floor is a refined fireplace decorated with stuccoes depicting scenes from mythology, completed in 1787 by the stucco artist Federico Brandani, whom the records refer to as Marco of Milan. The palazzo’s current name derives from its last owner, Enzo Giannini of Rimini, the husband of Countess Giovanna Cenci Bolognetti.
Private property
Palazzo Giannini, now Palazzo Bruschi
This is situated in Via Giannini, the street that runs parallel to Corso Matteotti, near the viewing point known as the ‘Parapetto’ (parapet).
The building was completed in all its majesty in the 18th century by the Giannini counts before being purchased by the noble Bruschi family after 1846. It is one of the most sumptuous palazzi in the town. It was built, starting in 1749, according to plans by the Camaldolese monk Paolo Soratini. The palazzo consists of several rooms decorated by local painters and a private chapel that houses a painting of the Madonna and Child attributed to the Florentine artist Carlo Dolci (1616-1686). Of special interest are the inlaid doors in precious wood and two spiral staircases in sandstone.
Private property
Palazzo Mattei Baldini, now Rebel House
The original building, which dates back to the 16th century, belonged to the illustrious Baldini family, the last descendant of which, Teodora, married Francesco Mattei. In 1832 Cardinal Mario Mattei, later to be Secretary of State for Internal Affairs of the Papal State, decided to make his family residence larger and more sumptuous and employed the Roman architect Raffaello Grilli for the purpose. The rooms were frescoed by the painter Vincenzo Liberati of Fabriano.
Following acquisition by the Priori family, the palazzo now offers accommodation and hosts cultural events, concerts and exhibitions.