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Sala dell'Udienza [Council room] |
Along with the Merchants Guild, the Bankers Guild was also one of the most powerful in the city (Cambio = exchange).
The
Collegio del Cambio (seat of the guild) [in
Palazzo dei Priori] was built between
1452 and 1457. The entrance doorway is a beautifully crafted work in wood that dates back to 1505.
The first room, the
Sala dei Legisti (lawyers room), contains inlaid furniture and wood panellings against the walls by Giampietro Zuccari (1615-21).
This room leads to the
Sala dell’Udienza (council room), which is the finest and best preserved 15th century secular room in Italy.
The wooden furniture is by
Domenico del Tasso and
Antonio da Mercatello (1490-93). The furniture highlights well the frescoes by Perugino (1498-1500) that adorn the walls and crossbow vaulting.
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Selfport |
The theme of the frescoes is a result of the influence of the humanist
Francesco Maturanzio, a teacher at the Studium Perusinum university.
The paintings represent the four Cardinal Virtues along with well known ancient figures. One of the dividing pillars features a self-portrait of Perugino.
The niche above what is known as the Court contains a statue of Justice attributed to
Benedetto da Maiano.
The passageway in the right hand corner leads to the
chapel of St John the Baptist, which was restored in the 16th century and was decorated with frescoes by
Giannicola di Paolo, an apprentice of Perugino (vault: 1511 and walls: 1528-29).
Collegio del Cambio
Corso Vannucci, 25 [Palazzo dei Priori - old town centre]
Perugia, 06122
Open:
March-October every day from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2.30 to 5.30pm
November-February from 9am to 2pm (Mondays closed)
All year round Saturdays open from 9am to 12.30pm
Closed on: December 25th, January 1st, May 1st
APM (Public municipal bus transport authority): stopped bus - Piazza Italia [only 100 meters away]
Linea 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13s, 13d, 15, 81, 82, 83, 87, bis28, bis33, bis34, bis41, bis44
Disabled access available