Province and Prefecture Palace

The Province and Prefecture Palace was built after the unification of Italy over the ruins where the great papal fortress, the Rocca Paolina, once stood. It was designed in 1867 by the architect Alessandro Arienti from Milan, the chief engineer of the city of Perugia.

The building, with porticoes all around it, reflects the style of the public buildings of northern Italy and is faced with the typical Umbrian white and pink stone. The interior decorations (1870-75) were done by Domenico Bruschi, Mariano Piervittori, Matteo Tassi, Giovanni Panti, Marzio Cherubini and Nicola Benvenuti.

The symbolism of the painting cycles are dedicated to the themes of the Unification of Italy and events of local history. On the main floor there is the octagonal Council Chamber, also designed by Arienti and decorated by Domenico Bruschi.

Since 1985, the Province has been the owner of the Straka-Coppa collection, which at the moment is not open to the public.