Siena - Palazzo Piccolómini

At the northeast corner of the Piazza del Campo, with its main front on the Banchi di Sotto, stands the Palazzo Piccolómini, built by Pietro Paolo Porrina in 1469 to the design of Bernardo Rossellino for Nenni Piccolómini, father of the future Pope Pius III. This handsome Renaissance building now houses the Archivio di Stato (National Archives), with historical documents, Government records, manuscripts, etc. Of particular interest are the tavolette di Biccherna, wooden panels painted by some of the most noted Sienese painters of the day as covers for the ledgers of the municipal treasury.