October 17 2009
Praetorian Palace and Civic Museum in Montaione
Tagged Under : Praetorian Palace and Civic Museum, Sightseeing
In many medieval town in Tuscany there is the Praetorian Palace. A Praetorian Palace is a building that hosts the governor – who usually belonged to a noble family – and who administered the territory. In Montaione, the Praetorian Palace, whose origins date back to 1257, is situated in Via Cresci, 15 in the historic centre.
In the past, has been home of many noble families including that of Michele di Giovanni de ‘Medici and Pietro Leopoldo, as reflected by coats of arms in ceramics affixed to the facade of the Praetorian Palace. The Praetorian Palace has been the seat of the telegraph office and then turned into school.
Today it houses the Civic Museum. The Civic Museum of Montaione exposes many discoveries that date back to the Etruscan and Roman age. In particular, fragments of vases found in the locality of Santo Stefano and Bellafonte and near the Roman cistern. Other exhibits demonstrate the ancient art of glass-making – practiced since the twelfth century – which spread from Montaione across the Valdelsa territory.
If you want to know more closely the ancient origins of the village of Montaione, don’t forget to visit this small but interesting museum.
