Ca’ di Piazza – Palazzo Zucchi Castellini

Zucchi Castellini Palace, known as the “Cà  di piazza”, was built in the 16th century. XV on early medieval ruins. The current structural scheme, renovated in the interior in the sec. XVIII, is typical of the noblest palaces of Pontremoli. The facade is modeled on delicate Baroque forms where the most valuable element is given by the portal. The entrance hall communicates with a harmonious courtyard, designed by a succession of columns with Doric capitals on an Attic base, in Renaissance style which in turn leads into the garden on the river. The courtyard, in which the original of a stele statue dating back to the 8th-6th century BC is placed, presumably dates back to the time of a 16th century renovation which incorporated the church and the monastery of San Giovanni.

On the main floor there is a large hall onto which four access doors open to two living rooms (plus one inside) and two side rooms. These doors are painted with three landscapes each. This is a decorative genre typical of the taste disclosed in Pontremoli by Niccolò Contestabili. In this room there are also two large canvases by Bottani, a canvas copy of a Guido Reni and two canvases with the story of Esther. In the living rooms (“red”, “green” and “yellow”), among others, canvases by Contestabile and Bottani can be recognized.

The gallery, cross-vaulted with large windows overlooking the courtyard, leads off the rooms and is furnished as a meeting place for the family thanks also to the ever-present Bratto chairs, in green lacquered wood with straw seats.

The ceilings, formerly with wooden beams, were replaced by masonry vaults by the Bocconi during the renovation at the end of the 18th century when they also commissioned the decorations of the house made up of neoclassical frescoes rich in weapons, panels, rose windows.