Palazzo Mazzatosta

The Palazzo Mazzatosta is a 13th-century aristocratic palace located on Via del Orologio in central Viterbo, region of Lazio, Italy. It has had numerous owners, and thus has been denominated the House (Casa) or Palazzetto (Small Palace) of the following families:

Capocci

Vico

Sacchi

Mazzatosta

Cecchini

The initial palace, originally a fortified medieval house with a tower, was refurbished by the militant Cardinal Raniero Capocci circa 1230–1240. While the Cardinal became a fervent Guelph, he had hosted both Pope Gregory IX in 1236 and Emperor Frederick II in 1240 at this palace. Frederic would besiege the city in 1234, and it would be successfully defended under the leadership of Capocci. In 1247, Frederick of Antioch, the illegitimate son of the emperor, had recaptured the city, and this led to the palace falling nearly to ruin.

In 1260, the next owner Francesco Vico, donated the house to the Dominican convent of Santa Maria in Gradi (now occupied by University of Tuscia). It was however reassigned to Giovanni Sacchi, treasurer for Pope Boniface VIII. In 1375, the palace was owned by Angelo Tavernini.