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Palaces and Villas
(XVI century) PALAZZO ZEFFERINI
This palace was built at the beginning of the 1600's in an area
where the ancient residence of the Zefferini had stood between Via
del Gesù and Via Zefferini, following a design by Filippo
Berrettini (1585-1644) the cousin of Pietro da Cortona. The compact
structure was developed on three floors. Below the windows on the
ground floor are large stone faces and various friezes with the
Florentine lily.
(XVII century) PALAZZO UCCELLI
The Uccelli family palace is found at number 28 Via Roma and is
derived as is evident from the 1600's map of Berrettini from the
fusion (probably at the end of the 1600's) of two tower houses which
existed at number 34/36 and 42/44. They were centrally connected
by a structure which had a vaulted stairwell with stairs in pietra
serena (the local sandstone). The work was commissioned by two members
of the Uccelli family called Domenico and Antonio and the date 1752
is inscribed on a marble plaque over the entrance door to a chapel
at number 1 Vicolo Uccelli which remains behind it.
(XVIII century) PALAZZO TOMMASI
This palace can be found at number 1 Via Dardano. The palace should
be remembered because a good part of the artwork and furnishings
held in interior, paintings, furniture, ceramics, etc, were the
property of Girolamo Tommasi the last descendant of this prestigious
family and now on display at the Etruscan Academy Museum after they
were donated by the widow Giulia Baldelli-Boni in the first years
of this century (1932).
The palace is now property of the bishopric.
 (XVIII
century) PALAZZO PETRELLA
This palace can be found at number 15 Via Guelfa and contrary to
the others it is the only one which is still inhabited by the heirs
of the family which built it. It conserves in its interior notable
objects of value among which are library with various parchment
and paper manuscripts from the fourteenth century. The library includes
a three volume manuscript containing the constitution of Cortona.
(XVIII century) PALAZZO MANCINI-FERRETTI
Projected in 1735 by architect Marco Tuscher on commission by the
Mancini family, by design it is massive and imposing an optimal
expression of the Baroque style. In 1803 it received the queen of
Etruria, Maria Luisa Infante of Spain. It is a rectangular shaped
building where the courthouse and some city offices can be found
today at number 45 Via Nazionale.
The areas outside the walls in the outskirts of the city are rich
in places of historic and artistic revelations such the following:
(XIII century) LA ROCCA DI PIERLE
The Fortress at Pierle is on the toad that leads to Umbertide in
Umbria about sixteen kilometers from Cortona.
It was constructed by the Casali family around the end of the thirteenth
century. Conquered by Ladislao, King of Naples it was sold by him
to the Florentine Republic along with the city of Cortona in 1411.
it was built in a giant rectangular plan from which rose four towers
of which two remain.
(XVI century) THE PASSERINI PALACE AT FONTECUMOLA (called "Il
Palazzone)
It was constructed in 1521 by architect G. Battista Caporali on
orders of Cardinal Silvio Passerini, whose crest in enthroned in
the keystone in the archway over the great entrance door. The paintings
of Luca Signorelli can be admired in the nobleman's chapel as well
as frescoes by F. Bernabei, known as Papacello and considered to
be one of Signorelli's best students, in the hall of honor. The
frescoes depict scenes of Roman history and the following should
be noted: The Battle of Trasimene, The Death of Marco Curzio, the
Head of Asdrubale Thrown into the Field of Hannibal and others,
The palace today is property of the Scuola Normale of Pisa which
organizes major research conferences directed by prestigious scholars.
(XVIII century) VILLA VENUTI A CATROSSE
This villa was constructed between 1725 and 1730 by the architect
Alessandro Galilei by order of Domenico Girolamo Venuti. In 1740
Marcello Venuti cave the task to architect Marcus Tuscher to design
an expansion to the complex. The expansion was never executed but
the magnificent plan was conserved.
(XVIII century) VILLA TOMMASI A METELLIANO
The villa of the Tommasi family in Metellian was constructed by
the rector Niccolò Tommasi and was expanded and enlarged
between the years of 1833 and 1870. Among its splendid structures
from the 1700's include a chapel dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist.
The ground are an admirable Italian style garden.
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