Many Italian palazzi in city centres conceal their grandeur behind understated façades. This apartment occupies the third and top floor of a three-storey palazzo facing southeast, situated on the quiet upper section of Via Giuseppe Mazzini in the historic heart of Arezzo. Behind its modest exterior lie exquisite interiors and a listed staircase of notable heritage.
A distinctive feature is the neighbouring building, the birthplace of the renowned Italian court architect and painter Giorgio Vasari, born here on 30 July 1511.
Historical Ownership
Before 1700, the building belonged to the Diocese of Arezzo and served as housing for clergy. The top-floor apartment was home to Bishop Bernardino Cellesi from around 1795 until the early 19th century. An inscription in the apartment’s small chapel confirms his residency and his contributions to its decoration.
Historical Context
Between 1795 and 1816, Arezzo witnessed significant events, including the miraculous appearance of the Madonna del Conforto and the “Viva Maria” uprising against the French occupation. Bishop Cellesi supported these events and oversaw the continuation of the Chapel of the Holy Madonna of Consolation.
The Apartment
The apartment features a vaulted private chapel with visible frescoes and a spacious living room with restored oak floors. The modern kitchen and dining area flows into a second living room, which also displays remarkable frescoes. The main bedroom includes frescoes and a dressing room with a contemporary shower room.
The Artists
The apartment’s frescoes, likely by Luigi Ademollo and Luigi Catani, may have been commissioned by Cellesi as a tribute following their work on the chapel. They depict biblical scenes such as the fall of Jericho, Lot and his daughters, and the Feast of Balthasar. The chapel presents vivid scenes of the Nativity, the Flight into Egypt, and saints, while the fireplace room features frescoes of Jael and Sisera and a central ceiling portraying a chariot reminiscent of Apollo.
Restoration
The frescoes were meticulously cleaned and restored between March and September 2021.
Nearby Towns:
- Castiglion Fiorentino: 18.2 km
- Anghiari: 31 km
- Sansepolcro: 36.8 km
- Perugia: 95.4 km
- Città di Castello: 39.7 km
- Siena: 74 km
- Florence: 77.2 km
Nearest Airports:
- Perugia Airport: 89.9 km
- Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport: 94.1 km
- Rome Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport: 245 km
- Pisa Airport: 155 km
