Palazzo Spada, Renaissance palace in Terni, Italy.
Palazzo Spada is a Renaissance palace on Via Roma in Terni, with a solid stone facade, a central courtyard, and two connecting wings. The building contains several rooms with frescoed ceilings and decorative details from the 16th century.
The palace was commissioned in 1546 by Count Michelangelo Spada and built to designs by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, who directed construction until its completion in 1555. The Spada family was among the leading noble families in Terni at the time, and the building reflects the scale of their influence in the city.
The main council chamber, known as the Sala di Fetonte, takes its name from the mythological figure Phaethon and features ceiling frescoes showing the Battle of Lepanto and scenes from the Night of Saint Bartholomew. These painted scenes hang directly above the seats where council members still meet today.
The building now serves as Terni's city hall and is open during regular municipal office hours. It is worth checking ahead of your visit, as council sessions or local events can occasionally limit access to certain rooms.
Archaeological excavations near the palace uncovered mosaics from a Roman house, showing that this spot was already occupied long before the Renaissance building was erected. The find sits just steps from the current structure, placing two very different periods of the city's past side by side.
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