16Mar 0 Palazzo Incontri-Viti Posted By: Anna Maria Baldini 40 Top Sights of Tuscany, Tuscan villas and their gardens, Tuscany travel guide Palazzo Incontri-VitiThe Palazzo Viti, also known as the Palazzo Incontri-Viti in Volterra, Tuscany The library of Palazzo Viti The Palazzo Viti or Palazzo Incontri-Viti is a palazzo located in the centre of Volterra, a fascinating town in the Province of Pisa in Tuscany. The Palazzo Viti is now a museum open to the public. The ground floor and the rear garden of the building are occupied by the Teatro Persio Flacco, inaugurated in 1828. Palazzo Viti bedroom History of Palazzo Incontri-Viti The palazzo of the Incontri family The construction of the palazzo was begun towards the end of the 16 C by a Volterran nobleman, Attilio Incontri, minister of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. The design of the facade, by Bartolomeo Ammannati, is intersting from an art historical point of view, highlighting the period of transition between the Renaissance and the Baroque. In fact, it anticipates many elements of the latter, with the richness and grandeur of the ashlars, without losing the harmony of Renaissance buildings. The palazzo has a street front of about 40 m, for a depth of 16 m, with two unfinished wings. Originally the palace was intended to possess two wings enclosing a grandiose, porticoed courtyard designed by the architect Alfonso Parigi and open towards the valley, but the transfer of the Incontri family to Florence prevented its completion. The construction of the Teatro Persio Flacco In 1816, the Accademia dei Riuniti of Volterra bought the ground floor and the courtyard and built there the Teatro Persio Flacco, one of the most beautiful provincial theatres in Italy. The loggia in the courtyard was blinded and the entrance to the building was moved from the main door to the side door which originally gave access to vicolo dei Lecci. This new entrance made it possible to continue using the grand staircase of the palazzo of which the original design by the architect Giovanni Caccini still exists. The arrival of the Viti family In 1850, Benedetto Giuseppe Viti, an alabaster merchant, bought the rest of the palazzo which is still inhabited by his descendants, completing the construction of the second floor, which was still missing the vaults, and decorating it according to the taste of the time with a prevalence of grotesques and with mock wallpaper or stencils on the walls. This largely well-preserved decoration and the original furnishings are one of the most important and complete examples of a 19 C stately home in Tuscany. In addition, the palazzo houses a collection of ancient alabaster, including the monumental candelabra commissioned by Maximilian of Habsburg, Emperor of Mexico, the inlaid tables and a very rich and important collection of Chinese and oriental objects from the 18 C and 19 C. The rest of the collection is made up of fine Italian furniture and an exceptional 15 C to 19 C picture gallery. Other interventions were carried out on the occasion of the visit of King Vittorio Emanuele II in 1861. The palace is now a villa-museum, where works of art, furnishings, alabaster chandeliers, antique objects and many books, including some very rare books, are exhibited. All these objects belonged to Benedetto Giuseppe Viti. The palace is open to visitors from April to November. Palazzo Viti Salotto del Brachettone More about Volterra. More about villas of Tuscany. More about villa gardens of Tuscany. Here are some similar topics: Volterra Volterra is an archetypal Tuscan hill town. Its very high and isolated location have preserved much of its original character. Part of its walls, the acropolis and the Porta dell’Arco gate are Etruscan and the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum is one… Read More » Museo Horne, Florence The Horne Museum (Museo Horne) is located in Florence at Via dei Benci, 6, a short distance away from the Arno and the Ponte alle Grazie, within an easy walk of the major sights around the Palazzo Vecchio. A visit… Read More » Florence Florence, the art and architecture capital of Tuscany and one of the most important art cities in the world. Probably the best months to visit Florence are May, June, September and October. July is very pleasant in terms of weather… Read More » Villa di Poggio a Caiano The Medicean Villa of Poggio a Caiano, also known as Villa Ambra, is located in the Province of Prato, in the town of the same name. The villa is a splendid example of the villas built by Lorenzo de' Medici… Read More » Villa Corsini Villa Corsini a Mezzomonte near Impruneta is one of three villas in Italy bearing the name Corsini. There is the former Villa Corsini “dei Quattro Venti” in Rome, destroyed during the Garibaldian uprising and now incorporated into the grounds of… Read More »
