Across the Via, rises the medieval Palazzo Pepoli Vecchio, also once pertaining to the same family, which now serves as a museum of the history of Bologna.

In the 20th century, the new owner Edvige Campogrande donated this floor to the city for the establishment of a museum.

The ceiling of the staircase has two ovals (1665) framed by stucco and painted by Domenico Maria Canuti, depicting the Nomination of Taddeo Pepoli to be a Lord (Senator) of Bologna and when Taddeo Confirmed as Apostolic Vicar of the Pope.

In 1788, the paintings was willed to a public museum by marchese Giacomo Zambeccari, and became part of the Pinacoteca of Bologna in 1884.

Among the painters in the collection are Crespi, Ludovico Carracci, Guercino, Marcantonio Franceschini, Donato Creti, Titian, Giovanni Battista Langetti, Bernardo Strozzi, Giovanni Battista Piazzetta, and Palma il Giovane.