Palazzo Malvezzi de' Medici, Renaissance palazzo in Via Zamboni, Bologna, Italy.
Palazzo Malvezzi de' Medici is a Renaissance building on Via Zamboni with a balanced facade of local stone and classical decorative elements across its exterior. Inside, several ornate halls can be found, including the renowned Sala dello Zodiaco featuring elaborate painted ceilings.
Paola di Antonio Maria Campeggi, widow of Giovanni di Bartolomeo Malvezzi, commissioned Bartolomeo Triachini to design the palace in 1560. In 1725 Marquis Giuseppe Maria Malvezzi de' Medici had Ferdinando Galli-Bibiena design the staircase, built by Alfonso Torreggiani. Giovanni Malvezzi refurbished the palace under Francesco Cocchi in the mid-19th century, and Aldobrandino Malvezzi sold it to the Province of Bologna in 1931.
The Sala dello Zodiaco displays ceiling frescoes with astrological symbols and religious scenes from the Renaissance period. These artworks reveal how the owners valued learning and intellectual pursuits during that time.
The building is located at number 13 on Via Zamboni and currently serves as an administrative headquarters. Visitors should note that access to interior spaces may be limited and it is wise to check visiting conditions in advance.
The family branch that lived here was nicknamed "dal Portico Buio" because the narrow Via Zamboni and the street of San Donato left the palace in shadow. The interior holds 20th-century works by Bologna-linked artists such as Bruno Munari, Alberto Sughi and Carlo Caporale.
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