This building has received travelling students for centuries, although they are now aspiring mathematicians instead of knights.
Palazzo del Collegio Puteano (Palace of the Putean College) is in use by the Scuola Normale, one of Italy’s most prestigious universities. Despite being the smallest palace on the Piazza dei Cavalieri (Knight’s Square), this former residence for travelling students still occupies the entire western area of the square. You can’t enter the building, but taking photos of its exterior is allowed.
The Palace of the Putean College began its existence as a series of separate houses. These were joined over the course of the second half of the 16th century. For centuries, the knights of St. Stephen inhabited the palace, while students from other parts of Italy resided within the quarters. Today, only the heavily decorated, centuries-old facade indicates its former purpose.
Notice how the façade is fading slowly under the Tuscan sun. Like many of the buildings in Pisa, the exterior is now a burnt brown, which adds to its historic appeal. The beautiful decoration that once was its centerpiece has the patina of a gracefully decaying building, a characteristic of many Tuscan buildings. Look for the symbolic frescoes painted by Giovanni Stefano Marucelli, which date back to 1608.
The building is primarily used as a research facility for the mathematics department and only those affiliated with the university can access it. Honouring its original use, the university also continues to host visiting students in its guesthouse.
The Palace of the Putean College is located on the Knight’s Square in central Pisa. You can easily reach it on foot or by bus from central Pisa. Drivers are advised to find parking on the south side of the river, because parking in the historic centre is often difficult to find.
