Palazzo Viti Museum

In 1850 a trader from Alabaster, Giuseppe Viti, after a series of adventures around the world, decided to buy the Palace, restoring it and hosting Princes and Kings, in rooms that have remained untouched ever since. Given the vicissitudes of the character, this building can be considered the personal satisfaction of Viti, triumphant in his adventures around the world.
In this nineteenth-century spectacle, located in Volterra, the charm of history has been preserved in the almost two centuries since its total reconstruction.

The museum

The gigantic mansion, consisting of lounge, ballroom, dining room, thematic lounges, cloakroom and even library, as well as further interiors, has been preserved as it was originally. Among the red velvet staircases, the twelve rooms that can be visited contain examples of Italian, European and Oriental art from a period ranging from the 15th century to the 20th, with important and symbolic pieces such as the portrait of Vittorio Emanuele II in the King’s Chamber, symbol of his overnight stay in the palace in 1861.
The Museum of Palazzo Viti is internationally renowned, as well as for the great care put into preservation, also for the large collection of oriental art contained inside, wisely merged with period furniture, in the European 18th and 19th century style. , able to give tourists an incredibly unique artistic show.

Giuseppe Viti and his Palace

Palazzo Viti is a symbol of success. Giuseppe Viti, son of an alabaster family, after several troubled experiences in the United States, finally manages to have luck with his travels, even managing, on his last great trip to Asia, to become Emir of Nepal.
With the fortunes accumulated from what was a real entrepreneurial celebration, Viti returns to Volterra, setting up the building that will later become the current Museum.

The twelve rooms

Each room has its own particular charm. The twelve rooms, open to the public, have been preserved as originally furnished.
The entrance staircase is already a prelude to the one that makes up the Palace. Made with materials and sculptures from the Viti factory, the faux marble effect is sure to appeal to visitors.

The ballroom, a must for a palace of the time, is furnished with Murano glass chandeliers, hardened alabaster floors and oriental objects, imported by the Viti during numerous travels.

The Salotto delle Battaglie is an example of a room entirely dedicated to war paintings, while the Salotto del Brachettone, with a large painting by the homonymous Daniele Ricciarelli, or the one who covered Michelangelo’s nudes in the Sistine Chapel, has fine furniture, mixed with paintings of great value.

The Saletta delle Porcellane instead contains the services, English and French, used by the family at the time. The Salotto del Terrazzo is entirely dedicated to the period of Giuseppe Viti as Emir of Nepal, also including the clothes used by him during his trip.
For the other rooms that can be visited there are the Yellow Room, the King’s Room where Vittorio Emanuele II stayed and where one of his paintings is still present and the surprisingly small dining room, where however many prestigious 18th and 19th century porcelains are contained. as well as luxury silverware, rarely used for family meals.

However, the Palace is made up of still other parts, all of which can be visited: the exhibition hall, where exhibitions or concerts are held periodically on request, the Library whose volumes are of inestimable value and the Red Lounge, the Wardrobe … even the entrance del Palazzo already offers ideas from an artistic point of view, with pieces of rare beauty exhibited at the entrance.

Useful information

To visit the Palace and find out its opening times, admission prices and further information not contained here, the official website is available https://www.palazzoviti.it/palazzo/ constantly updated on all types of changes.
If you are passing through Volterra for a holiday, or if you live in the neighboring areas and want to admire a masterpiece of an Italian private residence, the Palazzo Viti museum is available for any type of visit, from individual to group, with or without guides.