Palazzo del Duca, Renaissance palace in Senigallia, Italy.
Palazzo del Duca is a Renaissance palace in Senigallia featuring forty-nine coffered ceilings in its Throne Room that display intricate artistic detail. The structure combines residential areas with formal state rooms, and the restored interior spaces now serve as venues for exhibitions and events.
The palace was commissioned by Guidubaldo II della Rovere in the mid-1500s and designed by architect Girolamo Genga as a representation space for court life. The building has remained a landmark on its square, reflecting Senigallia's importance as a ducal residence during the early modern period.
The ceiling paintings include carnival imagery with cherubs positioned above adults, offering commentary on social hierarchy through artistic means. Visitors today can see how these Renaissance works expressed unconventional ideas about power and rank.
The palace welcomes visitors during designated hours throughout the week, with rotating exhibitions filling the rooms most of the year. The restored interior can be explored on foot, with staircases connecting the different levels and halls of the building.
The building overlooks a military square that has no religious structures, and features an off-center Fountain of Ducks in its courtyard. This unusual layout reflects its original purpose as a structure with defensive and strategic functions.
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