Palazzo del Monte di Pietà Nuovo, Renaissance palace in Piazza Duomo, Padua, Italy
Palazzo del Monte di Pietà Nuovo is a Renaissance building on Piazza Duomo with a classical portico of six arches made from trachite stone blocks. The facade facing Via Monte di Pietà displays Mannerist features that give the complex its distinctive appearance.
The Monte di Pietà was founded in 1491 by Bishop Pietro Barozzi to provide low-interest loans to the population. The institution relocated its operations to this newly built structure in 1519.
The palace takes its name from the institution housed here starting in 1519, which assisted citizens facing financial hardship. The building reflects how Renaissance Padua merged practical social purpose with artistic ambition in its architecture.
The building houses the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo and hosts regular art exhibitions for visitors. The different entrances lead to various areas of the complex, so check where you want to go beforehand.
The building suffered a severe fire in 1530, and the renovations that followed created an unusual blend of medieval arcades and Renaissance features. This visible combination of two eras makes the palazzo a striking example of architectural adaptation.
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