Palazzo di San Clemente facts for kids
The Palazzo di San Clemente is a beautiful old building in Florence, Italy. It's also known as the Palazzo del Pretendente. A "palazzo" is like a grand palace or a very large, fancy house.
Contents
History of the Palazzo
This grand building has a long and interesting past. It started as a smaller house on Via Capponi, which you can see on old city maps from 1584.
Early Owners and Changes
A man named Luigi di Toledo bought the house. He was the brother of Eleanor of Toledo, who was a very important noblewoman called a Grand Duchess. Luigi made the house much bigger. A famous writer from that time, Giorgio Vasari, even wrote about it in his book, Life, which was about artists like Jacopo Sansovino.
The Guadagni Family and a New Look
In 1634, the Guadagni family bought the palazzo. They hired an architect named Gherardo Silvani to make it even more beautiful. In 1644, he worked on both the palace and its garden. The building was changed into a type of country house known as a Casino. This was a popular style for wealthy families back then. The Guadagni family owned the palazzo for many years, until 1777.
The "Pretender" and New Name
In 1777, the Guadagni family sold the palazzo to Charles Edward Stuart. He was also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. He used the name "Count of Albany" when he lived there. Bonnie Prince Charlie believed he should be the king of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. Because he was a "pretender" (someone who claims a throne), the palace became known as the Palazzo del Pretendente.
Later, the palace was owned by Simone Velluti Zati, who was the Duke of San Clemente. This is how the building got its current name, Palazzo di San Clemente. A Russian prince named Nikolai Nikitich Demidov even stayed there as a guest in 1882.
Today's Use
Today, the Palazzo di San Clemente is still an important building. It is now home to the Faculty of Architecture for the University of Florence. Students learn about designing buildings in this historic place.
