History

Commissioned by Tommaso Spinelli during the height of Florence’s commercial power, the palace was constructed over a decade under the direction of Rossellino, one of the Renaissance’s most accomplished architects. The building was later known as the Ridolfi Zanchini Palace before returning to its original name.

In 1976, Francesco Amodei and Sauro Martini—two childhood friends inspired by Florence’s experience during the catastrophic 1966 flood—established the Institute for Art and Restoration within the palace. The choice of location was symbolic: a Renaissance masterpiece would now dedicate itself to preserving the world’s cultural heritage.