Palazzo Cesi-Gaddi

The palace was built by the Gaddi, a wealthy family of Florentine merchants, at the beginning of the 16th century and shortly afterwards purchased by the Cesi, a noble family of Umbrian origin.

Federico Cesi, duke of Acquasparta, settled in the building after marrying Isabella Salviati, which is why the Cesi-Salviati composite coat of arms still crowns the portal. A lively, highly cultured person with a passion for science, Federico set up an interesting botanical garden in his palace and founded the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei here, often welcoming the scientists of the time to its halls, including Galileo Galilei, of whom he was a personal friend. Passionate about art, the Cesi family also had a collection of ancient statues, and in the palace garden two statues of kings of Numidia, now on display in the Capitoline Museums, were brought to light.