The Palazzo Chigi-Saracini is a

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, a Germanic people **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Gothic alphabet, an alphabet used to write the Gothic language ** Gothic ( ...

urban palace on the Via di Città in the Terzo di Città in central

Siena Siena ( , ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; ) is a city in Tuscany, in central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. It is the twelfth most populated city in the region by number of inhabitants, with a population of 52,991 ...

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...

, Italy. It is the seat of the

Accademia Musicale Chigiana The Accademia Musicale Chigiana (''English'': Chigiana Musical Academy) is a music institute in Siena, Italy. It was founded by Count Guido Chigi-Saracini in 1932 as an international centre for advanced musical studies. It organises Master Class ...

. It was built by the Marescotti family in the 12th century. It was the house of Count Galgano Lucarini Saracini and then it became property of Fabio Chigi Lucarini Saracini. The palace is described as a "Gothic beauty with a curved facade and back courtyard."

History

In the mid-twelfth century, the aristocratic Marescotti family of Siena, owners of a castle at the site, erected the tower that stands today next to the palace. Their emblem (an eagle with outstretched wings) is visible on the trefoil windows of the facade. Subsequent reconstructions led to the Gothic structure visible now. In 1506, the Piccolimini-Mandoli family acquired the building and refurbished the palace interiors, cortile, and

loggia In architecture, a loggia ( , usually , ) is a covered exterior Long gallery, gallery or corridor, often on an upper level, sometimes on the ground level of a building. The corridor is open to the elements because its outer wall is only parti ...

in a

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...

style. In 1770, the owner Marcantonio Saracini undertook a restoration of the building that lasted until 1824, when Galgano, his son, inherited it. Preserving the original Gothic façade, the castle matches the characteristic curvature of this narrow medieval street. The interior was renovated and modernized by Agostino Fantastici, and art collections were added. In 1877, after Galgano Saracini died, the palace was inherited by Fabio Saracini, who died in a hunting accident, passing the castle on to his nephew Guido. Count Guido Chigi-Saracini, the castle's last owner, restored the building's exterior and interior with the help of architect Arturo Viligiardi (especially the rococo-style concert hall). In 1932, he founded the Chigiana music academy, to which he bequeathed the building after his death in 1965.

References

External links

Chigi-Saracini Gothic architecture in Siena {{Italy-palace-stub