Fenzi Palace

The Palazzo Marucelli Fenzi, located in via San Gallo in Florence, is a magnificent example of seventeenth-century architecture that encapsulates a rich history of transformations and art. Originally built for the Castelli family in the seventeenth century by the architect Gherardo Silvani, one of the most important architects of the post-Renaissance period, the palace was later expanded and embellished by the Marucelli family, and finally purchased by the Fenzi family in 1829. The facade of the palace exudes a sober elegance, characteristic of Florentine architecture of the time. However, what truly makes this building special are its interior decorations, representing one of the most extraordinary examples of Rococo art in Italy. On the ground floor, the monumental rooms are adorned with a cycle of paintings by Sebastiano Ricci, one of the protagonists of Italian and European Rococo. His works, executed between 1706 and 1707, are enriched by the elegant stuccoes of Giovanni Baratta, giving the rooms a sense of theatricality and splendor. The history of the palace is closely linked to the families who owned it. The Marucelli, known for their patronage, were responsible for transforming the palace into a jewel of late Baroque. Subsequently, the building passed to the Fenzi family, influential bankers who used it as the headquarters of their bank and private residence. Emanuele Fenzi, the head of the family, is also known for financing the construction of the Leopolda railway line, one of the first in Italy, which connected Florence to the port of Livorno. This connection to the railway is symbolically represented by a bas-relief of a locomotive on the palace’s coat of arms. The Palazzo Marucelli Fenzi now houses the Department of History, Archaeology, Geography, Art, and Entertainment (SAGAS) of the University of Florence. This academic destination not only preserves the building but also continues the tradition of cultural and intellectual promotion initiated by its previous owners. The palace is only open to the public on rare occasions, usually in conjunction with exhibitions and special events organized by the university department. One of the most significant recent events was the exhibition “Arts in Dialogue,” which connected the works of Baratta and Ricci with the porcelain and terracotta sculptures of the Ginori Manufacture. This event provided an important opportunity to admire the works in a dialogical context, emphasizing the continuity between artistic heritage and contemporary production. The exhibition also highlighted the importance of collaboration between cultural institutions, such as the Ginori Museum and the University of Florence, for the enhancement and enjoyment of artistic heritage. The rooms of the palace, with their frescoes and stuccoes, offer an extraordinary testimony to the aesthetic taste and technical mastery of late Florentine Baroque. The main hall, decorated with mythological frescoes by Ricci, is a striking example of how art can transform architectural spaces into places of wonder and reflection. The Palazzo Marucelli Fenzi is therefore a place that uniquely combines history, art, and culture. Its evolution from a private residence to an academic center reflects the social and cultural transformations of Florence over the centuries. For those fortunate enough to visit during one of the public events, it represents an unmissable opportunity to immerse themselves in the richness of Florentine artistic heritage and better understand the historical dynamics that have shaped this extraordinary city.