Palazzo Cozza Caposavi

Palazzo Cozza Caposavi is a sixteenth-century residence in Bolsena's castle quarter, associated with the Cozza and Caposavi families for more than five centuries. Its furnished rooms, painted decoration and large library preserve the character of a historic household rather than a public gallery.

Why it matters

The palace was built around 1561 for Cardinal Tiberio Crispo, papal governor at Bolsena. It later passed between the Cozza and Caposavi families and was reunited through an eighteenth-century marriage. Its documented collection includes furnishings and works of art, while the library holds more than ten thousand volumes, including signed first editions.

What to notice

The rooms retain cotto floors, painted ceilings, family portraits and accumulated furnishings. The library spans works from the sixteenth century to the present. Several rooms have decorative wall schemes restored by the painter Balthus, including the Chinese drawing room and the green baldachin room. The palace's history also includes its relationship to the former Ostello della Corona, once located in the basement.

Context and history

The palace's owners and guests connect Bolsena to wider political and cultural histories. In the 1970s, gallerist Plinio de Martiis used a Cozza Caposavi country house as a summer gathering place for artists including Alberto Burri, Tano Festa, Mario Schifano, Franco Angeli and Cy Twombly. The family also had a civic role: Francesco Cozza donated land to the community before the agrarian reform. The residence is part of the historic-house ensemble around the Rocca Monaldeschi.