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The Palazzo Pierozzi-Astancolle is
situated near the west entrance of Todi, just in front of
the steps that lead up to the Church of San Fortunato. It
is one of the better preserved examples of renaissance architecture
of the town.
It was built around 1580 as a residence for the nobile family
Astancolle that descended from a German knight who came to
Italy at the beginning of 1200 among the retinue of Philip
of Svevia, son of the German Emperor Frederick of Hohenstaufen,
the Red Beard.
The Astancolle were pro-imperial (the Wibelingen or Ghibellini)
and took part in the battle for the power and rule of the
town against the pro-papal party (the Welfen or Guelfi).
They destroyed many villages and feudal forts in the countryside
around Todi and in 1275 they were one of the most important
nobiles of the town. In 1425 they defended the castle of Monticello,
besieged by the Guelfi. In 1580 they built the Palazzo and
at the beginning of 1600 they obtained a chapel inside the
Church of San Fortunato. At the end of 1700 and beginning
of 1800 the last heiress of the Astancolle family married
Antonino Pierozzi.
One enters in the Palazzo through a hallway with the stem
of the Astancolle family above and up the staircase lit by
windows looking onto the square where the Civic Theatre is
(the second half of 1800).
The second floor has many decorations and murals of about
1700 and a huge hall that overlooks the square and the hills
where one can see the sun go down. All the doors, doorposts
and beams are the original, as are the floors in antique cotto.
The recent remodernization of the Palazzo Pierozzi-Astancolle
has been carried out thanks to the project of architect Firouz
Galdo (also one of the architects of the restructuring of
the Palazzo delle Esposizioni of Rome). The works have left
the large salons on the second floor intact creating a more
modern and comfortable space for all the other rooms.
Whereas on the third floor the restoration has created two
modern apartments that have, however, preserved the structure
and the space of the old building. The 4 apartments and mini-apartment
have all comforts. There is a lift to the 2 apartments entered
through the main door.
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