Palazzo Orsetti, 16th century palace in Lucca, Italy
Palazzo Orsetti is a 16th-century palace in Lucca featuring two grand facades with monumental entrances framed in sandstone. Decorative sculptured figures of a newt and mermaid crown the portals and distinguish the building's appearance.
The Diodati family built this palace in the 1500s on the foundations of an earlier medieval structure. It now serves as the seat of Lucca's municipal administration, housing the mayor's offices and city council.
The Music Room preserves its original furnishings and an 18th-century chandelier, with room geometry designed to optimize acoustics for musical performances. Today this space still reflects the original owners' intention to create a venue for artistic gatherings.
Access is available only through guided tours, which include viewing the Green Room where civil marriage ceremonies are held. When planning a visit, keep in mind this is an active government building with limited visiting hours.
The landing staircase displays two notable paintings: Pietro Paolini's work depicting the conspiracy against Wallenstein and Pontormo's rendering of Cupid and Psyche. These two works from different artistic periods side by side reveal the collecting interests of the palace's former owners.
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