Bologna Palazzo Ratta
Palazzo Ratta Photos
About Palazzo Ratta
The current façade of this building includes ‘a portico that was modernized in the neo-classical period,’ whereas the interior of the building still retains the original XV century layout.
Under one of the porticoes is this XV century sculpture of the Madonna. The space here is based around two attractive Renaissance courtyards with loggias. The inner most one actually dates to the 1400s. Part of this ground floor in all probability included horse stables.
This was a senator’s palace built in 1570 by the ‘Ratta family who came, according to Salaroli, from Vedrana di Budrio and were originally called the Dalla Lana in reference to their profession.’ It was on the initial idea that Ludovico Ratta purchased this area to build upon. In fact, the whole palazzo takes up number 26 where this following footage leads into now.
At number 24 there is now a private law practice which contains most of the precious art work by Ludovico and Annibale Carraci, Antonio Burrini, Domenico Santi, otherwise called ‘il Mengazzino’, and the Rolli brothers. Those rooms were supposedly used for hospitality.
The following rooms are named Sala Enea, Sala dei Cherubibni, and Sala Estiva. While some of those previously mentioned artists decorated these rooms including the impressionist friezes and parietal art there were also more hands at work in here, such as: Domenico from Ambrogi, Francesco Vaccari and Marco Antonio Chiarini.
The Ratta family became active in politics and rose to important positions. In 1676 they even held a seat on the senate. The ground on which the palazzo was built was first owned by the Recordati family, known as spice-merchants in the XV century.
The original house belonging to the Recordati family here was burnt down and eventually leveled out. Nearby at the time were the properties of the Pepoli family and the Fabbriceria di San Petronio, which was probably a small factory.
Presently, the building belongs to the ‘Istituti Educativi in Bologna’. The institute was established to provide education to poverty-stricken young people and money for this was donated by generous donors. The many art works hanging around the rooms are also part of the institute’s collection. It operates around the city and mainly deals with 10-14 year olds, helping to educate them and assist their welfare. Many of these students come from social backgrounds which are evidently unproductive and full of problems. Cultural activities are also provided for with various exhibitions taking place every so often.
Towards the end of the 1600s Senator Francesco Ratta moved, after disagreements with the family, to Palazzo Vizzani in Via Santo Stefano, where it’s reported of the time, that his senatorial parties were noted for their exquisite taste and illustrious events. When the last of the Ratta family ceased to live here their reign in this grand palazzo finally came to an end in 1797.
References
Giuseppe Sassatelli, Cristiana Morigi Govi, Jacopo Ortalli, Francesca Bocchi, Atlante Storico Delle Città Italiane Emilia Romagna Bologna, , Bologna I, Bologna 1996, pp187.