Palazzo Ghini 🇮🇹

Located along Corso Sozzi in the old center of Cesena, Italy, Palazzo Ghini is the best known of the five historic palaces belonging to the ancient Ghini family. Built on a site where Roman buildings once stood in the 3rd–2nd centuries BC, the current palace was commissioned in the 1680s by brothers Giacomo Francesco and Alessandro Bruno Ghini and designed by local architect Pier Mattia Angeloni.

Over the centuries, the noble family—whose lineage includes Pope Pius VII—held significant influence in the region, and the building eventually served as an ecclesiastical residence and Jesuit headquarters before coming under the ownership of the Curia. Today, you will find an imposing exterior made taller than neighboring historic buildings, featuring Istrian marble quoins decorated with the papal insignia of Pius VI.

Inside, an evocative courtyard boasts a splendid three-story gallery with white stone columns that afford a view toward the front of the Malatestiana Library. As you explore, climb the main stairway past four impressive statues by Francesco Calligari—depicting Minerva, Ceres, Glory, and Mars—leading into the grand hall of honor, where you can admire a remarkable cycle of mythological frescoes painted by Giacomo Bolognini between 1719 and 1721.

What to see at Palazzo Ghini

• Imposing exterior featuring Istrian marble quoins decorated with papal insignia of Pius VI
• Three-story courtyard gallery with white stone columns offering views of the Malatestiana Library
• Grand stairway showcasing four striking statues by sculptor Francesco Calligari
• Hall of honor featuring a magnificent cycle of 13 mythological frescoes painted by Giacomo Bolognini
• Rich historical connections to the prominent Ghini family and past Roman settlements

Visiting tips

Look closely at the massive exterior facade to spot putlog holes that reveal the building's historical incompleteness.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Palazzo Ghini is easy to reach on Cesena’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Biblioteca Malatestiana and Cesena Cathedral. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Cesena travel guide.