Palazzo Poggi, Mannerist palace in Bologna, Italy
Palazzo Poggi is a Mannerist palace in Bologna featuring ornate interior spaces decorated with frescoes by renowned artists such as Pellegrino Tibaldi, Nicolò dell'Abate, and Prospero Fontana. The building now contains multiple museum collections focused on natural history, anatomy, physics, and military architecture spread across its various halls.
Construction of the palace started in 1549 under architect Bartolomeo Triachini, commissioned by Bishop Giovanni Poggi. The Bologna Senate acquired the building in 1711 and established the Institute of Sciences and Arts within its walls, transforming it into a center for learning.
The palace houses collections that showcase how Renaissance scholars in Bologna gathered knowledge about nature, human anatomy, and military science. Visitors can see the rooms arranged as they were when intellectuals used them to study and share ideas.
The museum is easiest to explore on weekdays when fewer visitors are present, allowing you to view the frescoes and collections comfortably. The interior is clearly marked and organized, making it straightforward to navigate between the different museum sections.
Luigi Ferdinando Marsili, a prominent military strategist and scholar, championed the transformation of this residence into a scientific research center. His efforts made Bologna home to one of the earliest institutions dedicated to combining scientific study with artistic preservation.
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