_Borgo degl’Albizzi. No. 15._
In 1372 Alessandro and Bartolomeo degl’Albizzi quarrelled with their
brothers, and obtained the consent of the Signori to take the name of
Alessandri and to adopt another coat of arms. They chose the emblem
of the Guild of Wool to which they belonged, adding a second head to
the well-known lamb. Later the house of Aragon bestowed upon them the
privilege of adding a golden crown and palm leaves to their shield.
Twenty-three Priors and nine Gonfaloniers of Justice of the family sat
in the Palazzo de’ Signori and many of them were sent on important
embassies. Alessandro degl’Alessandri was knighted by the Emperor
Frederick IV., while his brother Bartolomeo gained such favour with
the King of Naples that he made him Chancellor of the Exchequer. In
1439 the Emperor Paleologus bestowed the title of Count on one of the
Alessandri and some eighty years later Leo X. created them Counts of
the Holy Roman Empire, a title confirmed by Gregory XVI. in 1845.
On either side of the windows on the upper floor of this palace are
still to be seen the iron cramps which supported the frames on the
roofs for drying cloth, source of the family riches. Part of the
palace was burned during the Ciompi riots while it still belonged to
the Albizzi; the side which was saved is distinguished by the pointed
arches of the windows. The Alessandri were great patrons of horse
racing--as racing was understood in those days--and owned a famous barb
“Il Gran Diavolo,” who won for them many of the magnificent _palii_ of
cloth of gold and velvet with which some of the rooms are hung. The
ladies of the family must often have stood at the windows clapping
their hands with delight at the victory of the fiery black horses which
carried their colours, for the winning-post was just beyond the old
palace. The race in Borgo degl’Albizzi on the 24th June, the day of
St. John, patron saint of Florence, is thus described by Goro Dati.
“After dinner when midday had passed and everyone had slept, enjoying
themselves, the women and children go to where the racers, who are to
contend for the Palio, pass through a straight street in the centre
of the city where are the finest houses of the chief citizens; and
from one end to the other the said street is full of flowers, and all
the women and the jewels and the richest ornaments of the city, and
great is the rejoicing. Many lords, cavaliers and foreign gentlemen
come every year to see the fine festival, and the number of people,
foreigners and citizens, is incredible, and not to be believed save by
one who has seen them. At the sound of three strokes of the bell of the
Palazzo de’ Signori the horses start, and on the tower are stationed
boys, who by certain signals show to whom belong the horses, which
have come from all parts of Italy and are the most famous Barbary
racers in the world. The winner is he who first reaches the Palio,
which is borne on a four-wheeled triumphal car, with a lion at each
corner. So well are they sculptured that they seem alive. It is drawn
by two richly-caparisoned horses, with the emblems of their Commune.
The rich and large Palio, of two lengths of the finest crimson velvet
joined together by gold insertion a handsbreadth wide, lined with
miniver, bordered with ermine and a gold and silken fringe, altogether
cost 300 and more golden florins. But of late it has been made of
brocade woven with gold, most beautiful, and of the value of 600
florins or even more.”[10]
The old palace is still inhabited by the Counts Alessandri.