Palazzo Spinelli

The Palazzo Spinelli in Florence is a historic building on Borgo Santa Croce, built between 1460 and 1470 on the foundations of older houses. The patron who commissioned it, the art benefactor Tommaso Spinelli, probably hired the architect Bernardo Rossellino for the project. The facade stands out for its distinctive sgraffito decoration, which takes the form of brickwork on the ground floor and monochrome floral patterns on the upper floors. A striking feature is the unusually large portal with a slightly projecting rusticated cornice, flanked by the coat of arms of the Spinelli family.

Inside, visitors are welcomed by a courtyard that has preserved its original 15th-century character. It is lined by a loggia with round arches and Corinthian-inspired capitals, while one side carries a balcony on brackets that recalls the architecture of Michelozzo. Here, too, you will find decorative sgraffito, including scenes with Hercules and Apollo as well as trompe-l'oeil effects that imitate windowsills. The staircase to the first floor combines stone, stucco, and brick flooring into a harmonious play of color.

From 1978 to 2010, the building housed the Institute for Art and Restoration as well as a nonprofit association. Today it belongs to the Marchesi Malenchini, who had it extensively restored in the 1960s. Protected as a national cultural monument, the palace offers a glimpse into Renaissance architecture and the decorative arts of the late Gothic and early Renaissance periods in Florence.