Palazzo Moroni (Moroni Palace), Bergamo

Moroni Palace, a historic building in Bergamo, is home to a remarkable collection of objects and paintings, including works by renowned artists like Giovan Battista Moroni, Bernardino Luini, and Cesare Tallone. The palace's collection represents the artistic heritage of the Moroni counts' family and is managed by the Fondazione Museo del Palazzo Moroni. Count Antonio Moroni generously gifted these treasures to the foundation in 2009, and since 2020, Moroni Palace has been part of FAI's assets, dedicated to preserving Italy's cultural and natural heritage.

The Moroni family, originally from Albino, rose to prominence in the region through their military and engineering prowess in the fifteenth century. In the seventeenth century, they furthered their wealth by cultivating mulberry trees and breeding silkworms for textile production. Their coat of arms prominently featured the mulberry tree, which gave them the surname "Moroni."

Eventually, they settled in Bergamo's upper part and constructed Moroni Palace on land purchased from the Pesenti family. The palace, overseen by Battista della Giovanna and adorned with frescoes by Gian Giacomo Barbelli in 1649, showcases its true architectural value on the interior. Donato Calvi's 1655 writing, "The Mysterious Paintings of Palazzo Moroni Explained," provides insights into the meaning behind the frescoes.

Moroni Palace is renowned for its notable paintings, including works by Giovan Battista Moroni, such as "The Knight in Pink," "Portrait of Isotta Brembati," and "Portrait of a Seated Elderly Woman." "The Knight in Pink" gained fame and was frequently exhibited in seventeenth-century Lombard art exhibitions due to its typical Lombard style.

Moroni Palace also preserves valuable furnishings, sculptures, and other decorative objects, alongside an extensive collection of historical documents. These documents, stored on the first floor, offer insights into the family's history and the building itself, with some dating back to the 14th century.