The Counts Guidi’s Palace in Poppi (Castle of Poppi)

The Counts Guidi’s Palace was built during the latter half of the XIII-th century for the will of the Count Guido di Simone da Battifolle.

By the middle of the facade a tower rises to divided the castle into different parts, one oldest showing just a floor with two windows and a two-storey part.

Outside the Palace it is possible to admire a fine portal surmounted by a stone-made statue portraying a lion that opens a large garden showing numerous noble ensigns.

On the left side of the garden it is possible to see the remains of some wooden galleries, whereas on the right side there is a stone-made staircase and on its feet it is placed a fine column surmounted by a Florentine "marzocco" (ensign of the city of Florence: a lion holding a shield portraying a lily).

Once entered the Palace it is possible to go upstairs along whose walls there are some works by Tuscan and Umbrian artists.

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On the first floor opens a large room where it is possible to admire numerous artworks like an earthenware dating back to the XVI-th century portraying an "Assumption with the Saint John and Thomas" and "Our Lady with the Child" coming from the Botticelli’s workshop. Very valuable is also the roof showing painted trusses.

Another room on the first floor hosts the Biblioteca Rilliana (Rilliana Library) that saves some very ancient manuscripts wrote by Latin poets like Orazio and Lucano. Today the library hosts the "Giovanni Gualberto Miniati’s Centre of Documentation about local history".

On the top of the staircase taking to the second floor is placed a statue portraying the Count Guido di Simone da Battifolle, dating back to the XVI-th century. Passing through a little passage hall, on the left opens the "Sala Grande" (Big Room) showing some traces of frescoes and a stone-made basin dating back to the XV-th century whereas, on the right, opens the "Saletta d’Angolo" (Side room) where are placed a fine Renaissance chimney and a chapel decorated with frescoes that were painted by Taddeo Gaddi (1300-1366).

Today the Counts Guidi’s Palace also hosts the Permanent Exhibition of the historical Campaldino Battle whose the famous poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) took part.