At the bottom of Via San Francesco, a short distance from the Basilica, there is a large building on the right side of the street: this is Palazzo Vallemani, which houses the Assisi art gallery and the municipal library.
It is normally a fairly busy place with tourists visiting the museum’s works of art as well as students using the library.
The Palazzo was built in the 17th century for the Assisi Breccia-Vigilanti family and designed by architect Giacomo Giorgetti. Later, in the 18th century, it became the property of the Giacobetti family and subsequently of the Vallemani family. Then, in 1886, the building was purchased by the municipality.
The façade is punctuated by a series of windows: the architraves are inscribed with the words ‘in Domino confido’. At the centre of the façade, the entrance portal is framed by a portico supported by two columns topped by a small balcony.
The rooms inside feature original paintings from the 17th century; the rectangular vaulted ceiling of the Banquet Hall is decorated with the Triumph of Virtue over Vice and an open gallery running along its sides showing some allegorical figures and where portraits of patrons Paolo Giacobetti and Settimia della Genga can be seen. The scene has been attributed to painter Ventura Salimbeni from Siena. In addition, for some years now, wooden shelves have been placed along the walls of the room containing manuscripts, 16th century prints and incunabula belonging to the Accademia Properziana (since 1506). The ceiling of the adjoining room is dominated by a panel depicting the Ecstasy of St. Francis by Antonio Circignani (Pomarancio), who also painted the Room of the Patriarch Giuseppe, and by grotesques and landscapes most likely painted by Matteuccio Salvucci from Perugia.
Another room of particular note is the studiolo, where the tempera decoration on the vault depicts Jupiter hurling thunderbolts against the seven deadly sins, personified on the walls by female figures. Although the name of the artist is unknown, Antonio Castelletti has been suggested.
Audio guide: yes
Languages: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish
Guided tours: yes, by appointment
Toilets: yes
Information point: yes
Shop: yes
Cafes: no
Cloakroom: no
Accessibility: not accessible.
From April to October:
from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Closed on non-public holiday Tuesdays
From November to March:
from Monday to Thursday – booking required;
from Friday to Sunday: from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
From 26 December to 6 January:
open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed on 25 December.
Palazzo Vallemani is open on the same days and at the same cost as the Pinacoteca.
Admission: full price €3.00.
Discount ticket: €2.00, for university students with enrollment ID, schools, children aged 9 to 18, seniors over 65, groups of over 20 persons.
Free: schools and residents of the municipality of Assisi, children up to 8 years old, non-ambulatory disabled, ICOM members.
Full price combined ticket: €10.00, includes access to the Roman Forum, the Rocca Maggiore and the Municipal Painting Gallery.
Discount combined ticket: €7.00, university students with enrollment ID, schools, children aged 9 to 18, seniors over 65, groups of over 20 persons, Assisi Welcome Card holders.
Via San Francesco, 10/12
Palazzo Vallemani is in the historic centre of Assisi near Piazza Giovanni Paolo II. Access to the Palace is from the art gallery, the Circolo Fortini and the municipal library but the mains floors may be accessed only through the Museum.
On foot: the building can be reached easily from anywhere in town.
By bus: just 750 metres from the C line bus stop in Piazza Giovanni Paolo II; 270 metres from the A-B line bus stop Porta San Giacomo.
By car: access to the Assisi historical centre is permitted to authorised vehicles only.
