Quaratesi Palace

Palazzo Quaratesi, located in Florence, is a splendid example of Renaissance architecture. Its construction was commissioned by Jacopo de’ Pazzi between 1458 and 1469, in an area predominantly occupied by the Pazzi family. The architect responsible for the project was Giuliano da Maiano, although in the past the project has been attributed to Michelozzo di Bartolomeo or Filippo Brunelleschi. However, the Pazzi family lost control of the palace after the failed Pazzi conspiracy against Lorenzo de’ Medici, an event that led to the execution of Jacopo de’ Pazzi and the confiscation of the family’s properties by the Medicis. The history of Palazzo Quaratesi is fascinating not only for its ties to important Florentine families, but also for the numerous changes of ownership it has undergone over the centuries. After the confiscation by the Medicis, the palace passed into the hands of the d’Estonville family, then the Cybo, the Strozzi, and finally the Quaratesi from 1760 to 1843. During the brief period when Florence was the capital of Italy (1865-1871), the palace housed the Prussian ambassador Karl George Ludwig von Usedow and his legation. The building features a yellow-ochre sandstone facade on the ground floor, with light stucco walls on the noble floor, decorated with elegant round-arched mullioned windows. The lunettes above the windows contain flowers and unfurled sails, symbols of the maritime enterprises of the Pazzi. At the southern corner of Via Proconsolo is a copy of the Pazzi family crest, originally sculpted by Donatello. A particularly interesting detail of the palace is the presence of decorative elements that recall the exploits of Pazzino de’ Pazzi during the First Crusade. According to tradition, Pazzino was among the first to scale the walls of Jerusalem, earning three stones from the Holy Sepulchre, still used today during the ceremony of Lo Scoppio del Carro to ignite the fireworks. Throughout the 20th century, Palazzo Quaratesi has seen further changes. In 1913, it was acquired and renovated by the Bank of Florence, which commissioned architects Ezio Cerpi and Adolfo Coppedè to add decorations in ceramic and colored glass. Subsequently, in 1931, the building was acquired by the National Institute of Social Security. In addition to its rich architectural and family history, Palazzo Quaratesi also has a significant cultural dimension. Its courtyards and interior rooms have hosted numerous cultural and artistic events over the years. For example, the courtyard windows were designed by the renowned American artist Kenneth John Conant and are part of the collections of Harvard art museums.