Giuseppe Partini, who argued for a return to medieval and Renaissance forms in post-unification Italy, completely rebuilt this piazza. One hundred and fifty years ago it consisted only of a keep – the Salimbeni fortress – and gardens. After Italian unification Partini was commissioned to create a new Renaissance piazza. He changed the perspective, levelled it, and fundamentally transformed its decoration. Finally he demolished the gardens of the Palazzo Spannocchi to leave the current piazza with a monument to the founder, Sallustio Bandini, at its centre. The palaces of the Tantucci, Salimbeni and Spannocchi close the piazza on three sides.
Rocca dei Salimbeni, Headquarters of The Monte dei Paschi di Siena Bank, Portal
Partini transformed the old keep which was the headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, one of the oldest banks in Europe and a Sienese institution.
Rocca dei Salimbeni, Triple-arched window
The origins of the bank lie with the Salimbeni, a family of Papal and imperial tax collectors which set up its offices along the Banchi di Sopra. In 1419 the family fell into disgrace and its activities were entrusted to a single credit institution with its headquarters at the Salimbeni fortress. Little by little the Monte became a key credit institution in Tuscany and in 1624 the Grand Duchy of Tuscany became guarantors. This greatly helped the economic expansion of the city. The bank, as its wealth increased, bought Palazzo Tantucci on the side of the square towards Piazza Gramsci.
Statue of Sallustio Bandini in Front of Palazzo Tantucci
Palazzo Tantucci, Portal
This enormous building, apart from having its original decoration well preserved, holds the collection of the Monte dei Paschi, an institution with a keen interest in art. The bank collected artefacts and brought them to Siena.
Palazzo Spannocchi, Façade
These included works by Pietro Lorenzetti, Sassetta, Jacopo della Quercia, Domenico Beccafumi, Riccio, Rutilio Manetti, and Alessandro Franchi.
Comune di Siena 2010 - accessible version -
