Praetorian Palace

The Praetorian Palace "Palazzo Pretorio" of Montaione which origins are dated back - confirmed by the latest findings - to the 1257 and it's possible to admire in the historical centre in Via Cresci, 15.

The building is developed on three levels linked with and internal stair. At the ground floor there are three rooms with showcase that contains wildlife of Valdelsa and a set of minerals and fossils discovered in the surroundings mines.

At the first floor, in the space that once was the Public Library (today in Via Marconi) there is a collection of Libic archaeological finds not displayed in the Civic Museum.
At the third floor, in addiction to the Historical Archives, there are some archaeological finds of Etruscan and Romans origins not still registered.

The building has been the Palace of many nobles families, including in 1370, Michele of Giovanni De' Medici. Than it became the residence of the Lord of Tuscany Pietro Leopoldo till the 1847 when the palace became the residence of the Municipal Magistrate and in the end it hosted the magistrate's court.

More recently, after the Italian Unity, the palace became the Postal and Telegraph Office, at the firsts floor there was the accommodation of the manager of the Postal Office and at the second floor was used as archive.

After an enlargement of the Postal Office building executed in 1961, the firsts floors was destined for a professional school and than to the secondary school.
At the end, in 1971 the postal office and the school was definitely transferred out of the town's walls, and the Palazzo Pretorio became the Public Library while the first floor was used as Historical Archive.

image.gallery