Palazzo dei Vescovi

The Palazzo dei Vescovi stands beside Belluno Cathedral as a reminder of the bishops' former political as well as religious authority. Its tower, masonry and later architectural additions preserve the character of a residence that also served as a fortified seat of power.

Why it matters

The palace is associated with the medieval bishops-counts of Belluno. Its development is traditionally linked with Bishop Gerardo de Taccoli in the late twelfth century, although the building's subsequent transformations are equally important to its appearance.

What to notice

The surviving tower gives the palace a markedly defensive profile beside the cathedral. The portal associated with the seventeenth-century work of Giulio Berlendis introduces a later architectural language into the older structure. These contrasting elements express the building's adaptation over several centuries.

Context and history

The earthquake of 1873 was followed by internal remodelling associated with Giorgio Pagani Cesa. Further work altered the façade in the twentieth century. The palace also passed through civic uses, including a courthouse and conversion to an auditorium, extending its history beyond the residence of the bishops.