Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Historic villa / palace
Gottifredo Palace
Medieval civilian building in the Lazio Region of Italy
At a glance
- Style
- Gothic art
- Coordinates
- 41°43′34″ N, 13°20′37″ E
History and description
Palazzo Gottifredo is a large medieval house in Alatri in the Lazio Region of Italy. It lies at the confluence of the main streets of Alatri at the time of the palace's construction: the first, coming from the north city gate of San Pietro; the second, from west, arrives from the ancient Via San Francesco which passes through the gate of the same name; the third from gate St Nicholas, to the east.
Both the size of the palace and the morphology of the interior spaces suggest that Cardinal Gottifredo di Raynaldo, ordered its construction, and wanted several functions: defence, government and entertainment. Since 1932, the oldest part of the palace, which corresponds to the tower facing the intersection of the three streets— in Alatri known as the Trivio (crossroads)— has housed the City Museum.
Design and construction of the building
The entire monument has a central part (slightly curved to follow the line of the street) on which lies the principal door (with a pointed arch and double moulding) and two towers, one on the crossroads and the other on the opposite side. The Palace was designed in the 13th century. Constructuction is assigned between 1229, when Gottifredo was Canon of the local Cathedral, and 1286, a year before his death, when was appointed Podesta of the town.
The first tower on the crossroads is Romanesque in style and anterior to the central part of the building. Starting from the first tower the entire palace was completed in a second phase, following the model of the medieval tower house. The house had an inner porch and was a multifunctional structure given that its surface has both small windows (for defence) and large mullioned windows (for halls and dwelling rooms). Later, during a third building phase, the multivalent function of the palace was stressed. On the ground floor there were the stables, on the first floor the home of the Cardinal and on the third floor a large Assembly Hall covered by a roof supported by three stately pointed stone arches typical of Gothic architecture.
The Gottifredo Palace was the centre of local politics and was a symbol of stability. The season of its full functionality and magnificence, however, did not last long. The death of Gottifredo left a vacuum of power that was followed up in 1296 by an unbroken series of violence, looting and destruction. Half a century later, the strong earthquake caused the collapse of the central part of the palace. The pointed arches on top floor collapsed on the floors below. Later a courtyard was realized in place of the hall on top floor and two buildings were rebuilt. …
The interior
Without considering some of the rooms on the ground floor which originally served as stables, and that now house small shops, the Gottifredo Palace is essentially divided into two parts, at present entirely separate: one is the tower-house, accessed by Corso Cavour, which is part of the municipal assets and includes the museum; the other is the remaining and larger part of the building, with the ample portal on Via Emanuele Lisi. The building is owned by various individuals and includes the inner tower, the eighteenth-century palace and the central body with the great Gothic Hall by the pointed arches.
The Museum consists of an epigraphical section and a demo-anthropological section.
They are currently under restoration. They have high chestnut panelled ceilings and eighteenth century frescoes.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Gottifredo Palace».
Photos
Getting there
Ferentino-SupinoTrain, nearest
11.2 km as the crow flies
Gottifredo Palace
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
Loading map…
Nearby
See on the mapMore historic villas and palaces in Lazio
- Free 1st Sunday
Frequently asked questions
Where is Gottifredo Palace?
Gottifredo Palace is in Alatri, in the province of Frosinone (Lazio), Italy. GPS coordinates: 41.72610, 13.34360.
What else is there to see near Gottifredo Palace?
Nearby you’ll find: Civic museum of Alatri (0 m away), Palazzo Conti-Gentili (100 m away), Acropolis of Alatri (200 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 3 photos
- Palazzo Gottifredo alatri — CC BY-SA 3.0
- 20140309 Palazzo Gottifredo Alatri — Sifossefoco, Public domain
- Palazzo Gottifredi - panoramio — pietro scerrato, CC BY 3.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences