The Praetorian Palace of Certaldo

The Praetorian Palace rises in the very heart of the historical centre of Certaldo, that is the oldest part of the town, where it is still possible to see the remains of the ancient ring of walls that once surrounded the Medieval village, characterized by red stone-made buildings.

The Praetorian Palace was built during the twelfth century as the Alberti Counts' residence and later it was modified during the fifteenth century.

The facade shows several heraldic shield, some marble-and-stone-made ensigns and two orders of windows surmounted by merlons.

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By going up some stairs it is to possible to enter the Palace where it is possible to admire a fresco dating back to 1460 portraying the "Incredulity of the Saints Thomas and Girolamo".

On the left side opens the Camera delle Sentenze (Room of the Sentences) whose walls shows some traces of fifteenth-century frescoes like "Our Lady with the Child" painted by Pier Francesco Fiorentino (1444-1497).

On the right side opens the Sala delle Udienze (Room of the Hearings) where it is possible to admire a wall painting portraying the "Pity" dating back to 1484.

Going on the right it is possible to enter a Renaissance garden, rich of stone-and-ceramic-made decorations portraying some ensigns and traces of frescoes like an "Annunciation".

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On the first floor it is possible to visit other two rooms, the Sala Grande (Big Room) whose walls are covered by noble ensigns and valuable frescoes, like "Our Lady with the Child" painted by Pier Francesco Fiorentino (1444-1497) and the Sala del Consiglio (Room of the Council) whose inside it is placed a fine stone-made chimney dating back to XV-th century.

Remarkable is also the Sala dei Forestieri (Foreigners' Room) whose inside it is possible to admire a "Pity" dating back to XVI-th century and "Our Lady with the Child on the Throne" painted in 1495 by Pier Francesco Fiorentino (1444-1497).