Palazzo Ricci

Palazzo Ricci is one of the best-preserved Renais­sance palaces in Monte­pul­ciano. It was built for Cardinal Giovanni Ricci, who was one of the most influ­en­tial perso­na­li­ties in the Vatican at the begin­ning of the 16th century. From around 1535 to 1541, Ricci had a town resi­dence built in his home town of Monte­pul­ciano, which he had extended and furnished in keeping with his status over the follo­wing years.

Since 2001, Palazzo Ricci has been home to the European Academy of the Arts, an insti­tu­tion closely linked to the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln and one of the German cultural insti­tutes in Italy. The historic buil­ding, which has a spacious inner cour­tyard, is a work­place, meeting place and event venue when young students from the art and music acade­mies of the state of North Rhine-West­phalia are guests here every year.