Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici

The Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici tells a significant part of the history of Arezzo. It was originally built as the headquarters of an Arezzo institution that emerged in the second half of the 13th century and has since been a key point of reference for the city in terms of assistance and culture. The construction of the building began in 1375 and the facade was entrusted to Baldino di Cino and Niccolò di Francesco. However, the works came to a halt in 1377. Between 1395 and 1396, Spinello Aretino painted the lunette of the portal with “Cristo in pietà tra Maria e San Giovanni dolenti”.

In 1410, Lazzaro di Giovanni di Feo Bracci, a wealthy merchant from Arezzo, passed away and bequeathed his fortune to the Fraternita dei Laici. This generous contribution allowed for the continuation of the construction. In 1433, Bernardo Rossellino was commissioned to design the second floor, and he created the bas-relief of the “Madonna della Misericordia con il Bambino, tra i protomartiri Lorentino e Pergentino,” which was placed on the facade. It was flanked by two niches with the statues of “San Donato” and “Beato Gregorio”. The interventions continued until 1461. With the completion of the second level, including the balcony by Giuliano da Settignano, there was an extraordinary fusion of the preexisting Gothic structure with the new Renaissance language.

In 1549, based on the design by Giorgio Vasari, a sail-shaped bell tower was added, which housed the precious astronomical clock by Felice Salvatore da Fossato from 1552. The clock is still in operation today and is a popular attraction for tourists. Visitors who explore the palace have the opportunity to enter the gear room. The facade of the expansion on the left side was executed in the second half of the seventeenth century.

Since 1786, the palace became the seat of the courthouse, and in 2010, it was transformed into the Museum of Palazzo della Fraternita. Over the years, it has been enriched with artistic treasures and thematic rooms. Of notable interest is the La Maestà o Madonna della Misericordia con i santi Donato e Gregorio (1448) by Parri di Spinello, the son of Spinello Aretino, displayed in the Audience Hall of Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici. On the ground floor, you will also find the Museum of Gold.

Astronomical Clock by Felice Salvatore da Fossato (1552)

Madonna della Misericordia, polychrome terracotta (1435) Bernardo Rossellino

Museo di Palazzo di Fraternita

Museo di Palazzo di Fraternita

Madonna della Misericordia con i santi Donato e Gregorio, wall painting (1448) by Parri di Spinello

View of Piazza Grande, oil on canvas (1780-90), Cristoforo di Donato Conti

Gold Museum Orodautore

Gold Museum Orodautore

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