Palazzo dei Vescovi, Medieval episcopal palace in Pistoia, Italy

The Palazzo dei Vescovi stands on Piazza del Duomo beside the Cathedral of San Zeno. It began in the 11th century as a fortified residence with battlements, then gained two- and three-light windows and a great hall with frescoes. Its open staircase on the north wall, documented in 1220, rests on a low brick arch and is among the oldest in Italian civil architecture. It now serves as a museum complex.

The palace is documented from 1091, when it stood as a fortified, crenellated residence built after disputes between the cathedral chapter and the bishop. Between the mid-12th century and the early 13th it was remodelled, and in 1786 it was sold to private owners. From 1976 the Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia bought the whole property and restored it until 1980.

The palace was the bishop's seat and remains central to the city's religious identity. Visitors can see religious artworks and chapel spaces that reveal how the church functioned in daily life.

The palace sits directly next to the cathedral and is easy to reach on foot, especially when exploring the old town. Inside, visitors can see various rooms and a small museum, with guided tours sometimes available.

An old sacristy in the palace connects to a story that Dante Alighieri mentioned in his Divine Comedy. The tale concerns a theft and shows how local events became part of great literature.