Palazzo Donati (gia Benzoni, Bernardi, Vailati)

The Palazzo Donati De' Conti, formerly Benzoni, Bernardi, Vailati, is a private historical residence in Crema.

Although the first information on the existence of this dwelling dates back to the end of the 16th century, the building undoubtedly has older origins:[1] this is demonstrated by the coat of arms placed above a capital of the interior porch, which can be traced back to the branch of Giorgio Benzoni (Lord of Crema between 1405 and 1423), which features an erect lion with a sword and a mastiff, while the other branches of the family heraldry lack the feline.

[1] In the Stato d’anime of the parish of San Giacomo in the year 1595, Antonio Benzoni, a descendant of Giorgio's own branch, was listed as living there with his wife Bianca Maria Placentia.

[1] The last Benzoni was Chiara, who before the year 1631 married Coriolano Bernardi, successor to a family whose ancestors included Pope Eugene III.

[5] Beyond the entrance hall paved with trottatoie is a portico with a coffered ceiling, three fornic with two columns of Ionic order whose capitals bear the coats of arms of the Benzoni and the Alfieri.

Facade