Take a step back in time and see the impressive frescoes and wooden furniture created by some of Perugia’s master craftsmen at the town’s Bankers’ Guild.
The Nobile Collegio del Cambio was once home to Perugia’s Bankers’ Guild, which was one of the most powerful organizations in the city. Today the building has been beautifully cared for and opened to the public for all to enjoy. Visit to get a delightful insight into the architecture, art and furniture of the 14th to 16th centuries.
The Nobile Collegio del Cambio is located in the grand Palazzo dei Priori, which also houses the National Gallery of Umbria on its upper floors. Between 1452 and 1457, a section of the building was given to the Bankers’ or Moneychangers’ Guild. Visit to see the ornate frescoes, paintings and carved furniture contained within.
Begin your explorations in the Sala dei Legisti, or lawyer’s room. This is the first room you arrive at as you enter through the beautifully carved wooden doorway, which dates to 1501. Inside the room, discover inlaid furniture and wood paneling designed by master craftsman Giampietro Zuccari in the 17th century.
From there, continue to the Sala dell’Udienza, or council room. Be amazed by the well-preserved furniture created by Domenico del Tasso and Antonio da Mercatello, as well as the fantastic frescoes which adorn the walls and ceilings. Crane your neck to appreciate the great Renaissance works by Pietro Perugino, which depict the four cardinal virtues as well as ancient historical figures. The room is considered one of the best preserved 15th-century secular rooms in the whole country.
Also worth visiting is the chapel of St. John the Baptist, which is accessed by a small passageway. It displays wonderfully restored frescoes by Giannicola di Paolo, who was a student of Perugino’s.
The Nobile Collegio del Cambio is located in the Palazzo dei Priori in the heart of Perugia’s old town center. It is open Monday to Saturday throughout the summer months and closed Monday afternoons during the winter months. There is a nominal fee to enter. Access the building on foot as part of a self-guided tour of the old town center.
