In the Tuscan town of Grosseto, there is a charming building in the historic district that immediately stands out from the surrounding buildings. The ground floor is clad in stone and the second and third floors have red brick walls and multi-colored accents - a beautiful, decorative building. This is the Palazzo Aldobrandeschi, which dates back to the Middle Ages and was built in the Gothic style. However, the facade may deceive you, as it is actually the Neo-Gothic style that you are looking at, as the palace was rebuilt in the 19th century, which was much needed as the building had fallen into disrepair over the decades. However, it is still a beautiful and fascinating building that anyone visiting Grosseto should take the time to admire.
The original medieval structure was connected to the complex of the nearby Aldobrandeschi fortress and church dedicated to San Giorgio. Over time, both buildings were abandoned and subsequently destroyed. In the meantime, the palazzo became the local residence of the Aldobrandeschi family, who lived there in luxury for generations. The building later fell into disrepair, however. In the 19th century, it was decided that the palace should be demolished and reconstructed, incorporating part of the existing structure.
Lorenzo Porciatti was the architect who led this project and it was officially inaugurated in 1903. He chose the neo-Gothic style for the building, clearly inspired by the Gothic public buildings in Siena.
This is evident in the division of the spaces and the explicit use of formal and decorative elements, both inside and out, as well as in the materials chosen, such as travertine and brick. The main façade is asymmetrical and is divided into four visually striking sections, two of which are crowned with towers.
Decorative elements include coats of arms with heraldic symbols, a finely carved balcony in the middle and at one end of the building, polychrome stone slabs, columns supporting the pointed arches of the windows and a crenellated attic made of brick and travertine, with the crenellations separated by simple openings.