The Episcopal Palace () is a building located in Piazza Mino of

Fiesole Fiesole () is a town and ''comune'' of the Metropolitan City of Florence in the Italian region of Tuscany, on a scenic height above Florence, 5 km (3 miles) northeast of that city. It has structures dating to Etruscan and Roman times. ...

, Italy. Built in the eleventh century, it serves as the residence of the

Bishop of Fiesole The Diocese of Fiesole () is a Latin Church, Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Tuscany, central Italy, whose episcopal see is the city of Fiesole. Fiesole was directly subject to the pope until 1420, when the archdiocese of Florence was crea ...

History

At the front of the Episcopal Palace is a double staircase constructed in the 19th century. The palace was built contemporaneously with the adjacent

Fiesole Cathedral Fiesole Cathedral (, ''Duomo di Fiesole''), officially the Cathedral of Saint Romulus of Fiesole, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Fiesole, Tuscany, central Italy. It is the seat of the Bishop of Fiesole and is dedicated to Romulus of Fiesole, S ...

in 1028, under the episcopate of Bishop Jacopo Bavaro. Over time, the palace was modified and expanded. In the fourteenth century, the palace was enlarged by Bishop

Andrew Corsini Andrea Corsini (30 November 1302 – 6 January 1373 or 1374
miracle hunter, 2015

, and subsequently by Bishops Francesco Maria Ginori and Cattani da Diacceto. The coat of arms of Bishop Filippo Neri Altoviti is prominently positioned above the entrance to the palace due to his expansion. The current façade dates to 1500. Inside the palace is the bishop's private chapel, which contains frescoes in the

Ghirlandaio Ghirlandaio is the surname of a family of Renaissance Italian painters: * Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449–1494), painter of fresco cycles and Michelangelo's teacher * Davide Ghirlandaio (1452–1525), younger brother of Domenico * Benedetto Ghirlan ...

school from the late 15th century, depicting Saint Romulus, Saint James, and

God the Father God the Father is a title given to God in Christianity. In mainstream trinitarian Christianity, God the Father is regarded as the first Person of the Trinity, followed by the second person, Jesus Christ the Son, and the third person, God th ...

. Also inside is the Oratory of San Jacopo Maggiore, which was built by Bishop Cattani da Diacceto. In it is a piece by

Lorenzo di Bicci Lorenzo di Bicci ( 1350 – 1427) was an Italian painter of the Florentine School considered to be one of the most important painters in Florence during the second half of the 14th century. He is believed to have learned his trade from his fathe ...

depicting the ''Coronation of the Virgin''. There are also paintings by Niccodemo Ferrucci and Antonio Marini. To the right of the Episcopal Palace is a

rectory A clergy house is the residence, or former residence, of one or more priests or ministers of a given religion, serving as both a home and a base for the occupant's ministry. Residences of this type can have a variety of names, such as manse, p ...

that was built in 1032 to house the canons of the cathedral next door. In 1439, it was expanded, adding a courtyard surrounded by an

arcade Arcade most often refers to: * Arcade game, a coin-operated video, pinball, electro-mechanical, redemption, etc., game ** Arcade video game, a coin-operated video game ** Arcade cabinet, housing which holds an arcade video game's hardware ** Arcad ...

and a marble column in the center with a small, metal image of ''Maria Santissima'', which was commissioned by Bishop Ranieri Mancini. In the palace's garden are the remains of an

Etruscan __NOTOC__ Etruscan may refer to: Ancient civilization *Etruscan civilization (1st millennium BC) and related things: **Etruscan language ** Etruscan architecture **Etruscan art **Etruscan cities **Etruscan coins **Etruscan history **Etruscan myt ...

wall that continues into the garden of the adjacent Diocesan Seminary, which once supported the lower circle of the

acropolis An acropolis was the settlement of an upper part of an ancient Greek city, especially a citadel, and frequently a hill with precipitous sides, mainly chosen for purposes of defense. The term is typically used to refer to the Acropolis of Athens ...

on which the San Francesco Monastery now resides.

References

External links

Diocese of Fiesole
{{Authority control Buildings and structures in Fiesole Palaces in Tuscany Buildings and structures completed in 1028 Episcopal palaces of the Catholic Church 1028 establishments in Europe

History

See also

References

External links