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The beautiful carved wood gateway is what remains of the former entrance to the Monte di Pietà. Founded in 1476, the Monte di Pietà had its headquarters in the rooms on the ground floor of Palazzo Pretorio, in what must have been the ancient chamber of the City Council (where arms were kept), on the north side of the building, just opposite the town hall.
The wooden gate was made around the second half of the 16th century, although there are numerous, albeit partial, alterations, such as the addition of the lower panels and the modification of the position of the doors.
To mark the entrance to the Monte di Pietà from the outside, a fine portal in pietra serena with the coat of arms of the municipality was built, probably by Giuliano da Sangallo, which decorated the façade until 1925, when it was moved to the courtyard, where it remained intact until recent restoration work on Palazzo Pretorio.
To emphasise the importance of the institution, a Pietà (Pity) was frescoed above the Monte di Pietà's entrance door in 1631: the same as that depicted in the Monte di Pietà's coat of arms on the Heraldic Shield painted by Zanobi Poggini and displayed here near the door.
Last update: 05 december 2024, 16:22
