Marker Logo
THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
San Gimignano in Provincia di Siena, Tuscany, Italy — Southern and Western Europe (Mediterranean)
 

Palazzo della Cancelleria
⎯⎯⎯
Chancellery Palace

La San Gimignano di Dante

 
 
Palazzo della Cancelleria / Chancellery Palace Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 27, 2025
1. Palazzo della Cancelleria / Chancellery Palace Marker
Inscription.
Il Palazzo della Cancelleria, detto anche "Palazzetto Marsili", situato in via San Matteo, fu edificato tra la fine del Duecento e l'inizio del Trecento ed θ riconoscibile dalle tre porte ad arco e dalle due bifore con archetti trilobati nella parte superiore. Fu restaurato in occasione del centenario dantesco del 1921. All'epoca era posseduto dal Comune ed in parte affittato all'Agenzia della Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze.

Il soprintendente ai monumenti di Siena Gino Chierici descrive il palazzo con dovizia di particolari in "Rassegna d'Arte" del 1921; nel "Bollettino d'arte" del 1922 riassume invece l'intervento di restauro consistito nella "riapertura e restauro delle bifore ad archetti trilobati, della monofora del primo piano e dell'arcata centrale al piano terreno. Imposta di castagno a formelle con chiodature; rostra di ferro alla porta; vetrate e sportelloni alle finestre". Si trattς di un restauro in stile secondo il metodo all'epoca in voga, fondato sul ripristino dei caratteri originari dell'edificio, come risulta ancora dai documenti conservati nell'archivio della soprintendenza.

In una lettera, Chierici precisava che Il progetto comportava "l'adattamento delle aperture sulla strada alle dimensioni antiche" come pure l'ingresso dell'Agenzia che andava "modificato e sostituito con porta di castagno
Paid Advertisement
Click or scan to see
this page online
a formelle di stile medioevale" (SBAP Siena, Archivio H-796 San Gimignano, Palazzo della Cancelleria, lettera del 1 dicembre 1920).

The Palazzo della Cancelleria
Some of the buildings in the historic centre were restored to mark the 6th anniversary of Dante's death in 1921, when it was decided to rebuild "Dante's environment as faithfully as possible". The buildings restored included the Palazzo della Cancelleria and the Gate of San Giovanni.


[Full English translation of the Italian text at the top:]
The Palazzo della Cancelleria, also known as the "Palazzetto Marsili", located on Via San Matteo, was built between the late 13th and early 14th centuries and is recognizable by its three arched doorways and two mullioned windows with trefoil arches at the top. It was restored for Dante's centenary in 1921. At the time, it was owned by the municipality and partially leased to a branch of the Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze bank.

Siena's Superintendent of Monuments, Gino Chierici, described the building in great detail in "Rassegna d'Arte" in 1921; in the 1922 "Bollettino d'Arte," he summarized the restoration project as consisting of "the reopening and restoration of the mullioned windows with trefoil arches, the single-lancet window on the first floor, and the central arch on the ground floor. Chestnut panels with nailed
Palazzo della Cancelleria / Chancellery Palace Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 27, 2025
2. Palazzo della Cancelleria / Chancellery Palace Marker
panels; an iron rostrum on the door; stained glass and shutters on the windows." This was a restoration in keeping with the style in vogue at the time, based on the restoration of the building's original features, as is still evident from documents preserved in the superintendency archives.

In a letter, Chierici specified that the project involved "adapting the street openings to their original dimensions" as well as the Agency's entrance, which was to be "modified and replaced with a chestnut door with medieval-style panels" (SBAP Siena, Archivio H-796 San Gimignano, Palazzo della Cancelleria, letter dated December 1, 1920).
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: ArchitectureArts, Letters, Music. A significant historical date for this entry is December 1, 1921.
 
Location. 43° 28.106′ N, 11° 2.575′ E. Marker is in San Gimignano, Toscana (Tuscany), in Provincia di Siena. It is on Via San Matteo near Via dei Marsili, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Gimignano, Toscana 53037, Italy. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, the Schengen Area, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Byzantine Empire, the Roman Empire, and specifically the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Chiesa di San Bartolo / Church of San Bartholomew (a few steps from this marker); Luigi Pecori (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Adamo Borri (about 180 meters away); Leopold II (about 180 meters away); The Freeing of 72 Political Prisoners in 1944
Paid Advertisement
(about 210 meters away); Il Convento di San Domenico / The Convent of San Domenico (about 210 meters away); Fra Giorlamo Savonarola (about 210 meters away); Olinto Ceccarelli (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Gimignano.
 
Also see . . .  Travelling with Dante on the Via Francigena. From the Visit Tuscany website.
Excerpt: "San Gimignano is one of the cities where it is certain that the Supreme Poet stayed. His arrival in 1300 as a representative of the Guelph League is documented, having come with the aim of obtaining a political alliance. The room in the Palazzo Pubblico where he gave his speech was since dedicated to him and is now called Sala Dante."
(Submitted on August 26, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.) 
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 84 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on August 26, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
m=282732

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisement
Jun. 6, 2026