Palazzo Martinengo Colleoni di Malpaga, Renaissance palazzo in central Brescia, Italy.
Palazzo Martinengo Colleoni di Malpaga is a three-story Renaissance building in central Brescia with a grand ballroom whose ceiling features decorative stucco work showing musical instruments. The entire structure is decorated with extensive monochrome frescoes that cover the walls and ceilings throughout.
Construction of the palazzo began in 1534 under the Martinengo Colleoni family, demonstrating their growing influence on Brescia's architectural development. The project was part of a broader transformation of the city's appearance by wealthy families during the Renaissance.
The interior shows a clear separation between male and female areas, with men's chambers displaying family scenes and women's rooms featuring light ornaments on the ceilings. This arrangement gives visitors a sense of how wealthy families organized their private life during the Renaissance.
The building is located in central Brescia and is accessible through guided tours led by volunteers who explain architectural and historical details. Visitors should move slowly through the different rooms to fully appreciate the decoration and structure.
The building contains a specialized room with four bronze medallions and allegorical representations of the continents, reflecting the family's international connections. This rare space subtly demonstrates how the Martinengo Colleoni wanted to display their ambitions and trading relationships to others.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
