Palazzo Gallenga Stuart

(1748-58)

Giuseppe Antonori built this Baroque palace, which was designed by the Roman architect Francesco Bianchi and executed by Pietro Carrattoli.  Its inspiration was Palazzo Doria in the Corso, Rome.

In 1875, the Piedmontese Romeo Gallenga bought it soon after his marriage to the English Mary Montgomery Stuart, and the palace received its current name.  In 1878, the young Venetian actor Carlo Goldoni made his début in the small theatre here, and the adjacent room was named Sala Goldoni in his honour.  It has a particularly fine ceiling.

The palace became the headquarters of the Università Italiana per Stranieri (University for Foreigners) in 1921.  Benito Mussolini participated in the opening conference in 1922, giving a lecture on the ancient Roman navy. 

Count Romeo Gallenga Stuart donated the palace to the city in 1930.  An American student (and honorary citizen of Perugia), Frederick Thorne Rider, made a substantial donation in 1935-7 that financed the building of a new wing along the back of the palace. 

Apotheosis of Rome (20th century)

This fresco by Gerardo Dottori is in the Aula Magna (main hall).

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