Palazzo Baldeschi al Corso (Baldeschi al Corso Palace), Perugia

Palazzo Baldeschi al Corso is the former residence of Baldo degli Ubaldi, the famous 14th-century Italian lawman, who, in 1369, decided to split from his brothers, and for that purpose had enlarged his existing dwelling by merging it with neighboring properties – in Corso Vannucci, Via Danzetta, Via Baldo, Via dello Struzzo and Via Baglioni.

Further additions to the building were made in 1480 and 1489-96, and then in the 1870s when the Baldeschi family modified it further. The latter was done in a bid to bring the medieval appearance in line with more modern trends. The result was a gradual transformation into a homogeneous structure, akin to a palace. It was at that time that the travertine portal – onto the Corso street – had appeared along with the identical travertine windows, spanning the entire length of the building and contributing to its overall unitary aspect.

In 2002 the palace was acquired by the Cassa di Risparmio di Perugia Foundation, and is now home to their outstanding art collection, featuring, among others, 147 extraordinary pieces of Renaissance Majolica (ceramics) – originally from the Sprovieri Collection of Poggio Mirteto, near Rieti, and the Frizzi Baccioni collection of Scarperia, near Florence.

The main floor is used for temporary exhibits, while the second floor is given to the Marabottini Collection – a donation of over 700 paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings, miniatures, waxes, glasses, ivories, porcelains and furnishings, all dated between the 16th and 20th centuries.

The third and the fourth floors of the palazzo, after careful restoration and refurbishment, have been hosting the Foundation’s own collection of artworks: more than 200 pieces, spanning the 15th to 19th centuries, by renowned masters like Perugino, Pinturicchio, Signorelli, Matteo da Gualdo and Niccolò di Liberatore, known as l’Alunno.