Palazzo Gambacorti - Pisa

The Palazzo was commissioned by Pietro Gambacorti between 1370 and 1392, possibly to a design by Tommaso Pisano, son of Andrea Pisano. The Gambacorti family belonged to the wealthy nobility of Pisa, with large estates in Valdera.

In the 15th century, the palace was given a different purpose: it became the seat, instead of a private one, of a public magistracy, the Consoli del Mare, the Dogana and later the city priests. In 1533 it became private again and passed into the hands of the Del Tignoso family, who expanded it to include the two buildings on either side, which are still part of the complex but look like different buildings from the outside. In 1698 the Lorraines took over and placed the Magistrates' Court there. In the 19th century, the State Archives, the barracks of the fire brigade and the city guard were located here.

From 2012 to 2015, the Red and Balearic Halls were restored, interfering with both the frescoes and the ceilings.

The 14th-century facade, in Gothic style, has alternating black and white two-tone materials, all of which are decorated with ornate twin-light stained glass windows. At the rear on Via Toselli is also a 17th-century facade, attributed to Pietro Francavilla, consisting of high windows with semicircular tympanums and an imposing portal with the Medici coat of arms.

The interior contains several reception areas and offices of the municipal administration. The finely vaulted entrance hall is sporadically used for some temporary exhibitions. On the second floor are three rooms of particular artistic interest. The first of these, the Sala Rossa (Red Hall), so named because of the color of the tapestry that covers the walls, contains the Pisa ceiling fresco that pays tribute to San Ranieri by Giuseppe and Francesco Melani. The Balearic Hall is the largest and most richly decorated, with an elegant coffered ceiling and frescoes commemorating the maritime victories of the Republic of Pisa. The sides depict the Conquest of the Balearic Islands and the Company of Sardinia, both painted by Giacomo Fardelli in 1693, in celebration of the Pisan exploits in the Expedition to the Balearic Islands and the Pisan-Genovese Expeditions to Sardinia, respectively. The central fresco, The Conquest of Jerusalem by the Pisans, was painted in 1695 by Cesare Dandini to celebrate the capture of Jerusalem in 1099 during the First Crusade.] Finally, in the Armory Hall, where civil marriages are usually performed, are the heraldic coats of arms to see the different families that held sway over the city, including the podestà and the mayors after the unification of Italy.

Willem Vandenameele