_Via Tornabuoni. No. 2._
According to a genealogy drawn up by one of the Spini in the XVth
century the family descend from Spina Moscardi, who lived in the XIIth
century; and whose ancestor, a Roman soldier, settled in Florence at
the time of the foundation of the city. His sons were Manetti and Ugo,
both knights of the Golden Spur and wealthy merchants. Verini names the
Spini among the great families of Florence.
“Qualis Spinorum fuerit fortuna secundos
Vobis, quæ fuxta sunt alta palatia muros
Testantur genus antiquum Romana propago.”
The houses and towers of both the brothers were partially destroyed by
the Ghibellines in 1260–1266, and the remainder by the terrible flood
of 15th December, 1288, when the Gianfigliazzi palace opposite was
also swept away.
The present magnificent pile was erected about 1290 by Manetti’s son,
Ruggieri, commonly called Geri, on the site of the old family palaces.
Some say that Arnolfo di Lapo superintended the building, others
that he only gave the design. Geri Spini, an able and very rich wool
merchant, and the recognized head of the Guelph, or Black, party in
Florence, must have been a remarkable and a many-sided man. Charles of
Anjou named him his representative in Tuscany, he was Commissary of War
for his native city, ambassador to Pope Boniface VIII. and afterwards
to Benedict XI., when he rode into Rome at the head of 150 horsemen,
all his own followers. On his return he was made Captain of Florence
and a knight of the Golden Spur. King Robert of Naples created him
Lieutenant-Governor of Arezzo and other cities, and in addition to
all these multifarious duties he, together with the Mozzi, was banker
to the Holy See, and he had to attend to his own business. He and
his wife, Oretta Malespina, “a charming and virtuous lady,” are both
immortalized by Boccaccio in the _Decamerone_. The story of the lady
depends entirely on its charming and almost untranslatable language,
but that of Messer Geri gives a vivid description of Florentine life
and manners in the XIVth century.
[Illustration: PALAZZO SPINI.]
“I tell how Pope Boniface, with whom Messer Geri Spini stood in high
honour, sent to Florence certain noble ambassadors on account of the
great need he was in. They dismounted at the house of Messer Geri,
and talking together of the Pope’s affairs it happened that Messer
Geri and these ambassadors walked out nearly every morning, passing
in front of Sta. Maria Ughi, where Cisti, the baker, had his oven and
personally exercised his art. Although fortune had bestowed on him
such a humble calling yet had she been very kind to him, inasmuch as
he had become exceeding rich, and though he would not change his
occupation, he lived splendidly; having, among other good things, the
best red and white wine that were to be found in Florence or in the
country round. Seeing that Messer Geri and the ambassadors of the Pope
passed his door every day and the heat being great, he bethought him
that it would be an act of courtesy to offer them some of his good
white wine to drink. But having regard to his condition and to that
of Messer Geri, it did not appear fitting that the invitation should
come from him, so he cast about for a way of inducing Messer Geri to
invite himself. Always dressed in a jacket of dazzling whiteness and
an apron fresh from the laundry, so that he looked more like a miller
than a baker, every morning he set in front of his door, at the hour
when Messer Geri and the ambassadors were wont to pass, a new copper
waterpot, well tinned, a new earthen vase of Bologna full of his good
white wine and two tumblers, which seemed to be of silver, so bright
were they. Then sitting down he would clear his throat once or twice,
and as they passed begin to sip his wine with such manifest delight
that a desire for it would have been raised in a dead man. Messer Geri
saw this for one morning, and for two, and on the third he said: What
is it, Cisti? Is it good? Cisti, rising quickly, replied: Messere, yes
indeed, but how good I could never make you understand unless you taste
it. Messer Geri, in whom either the weather, or more business than
usual, or perchance the tasty sips of Cisti had caused thirst, turned
to the ambassadors, and smiling, said: What say you, gentlemen, would
it not be well if we taste the wine of this good man; most likely we
shall have no cause to repent? And together they went towards Cisti. He
placed a fine bench outside and begged them to be seated, and to their
servants who pushed forward to wash the tumblers he said: Companions,
stand back and leave me to do this work, for I know as well how to
pour out wine as to make bread, and do not you think to have a drop.
Saying this he washed four good new tumblers, had a fresh small earthen
jar of his good white wine brought up, and carefully gave to drink to
Messer Geri and his companions. The wine seemed to them the best they
had tasted for a long, long time, and they praised it mightily, so
while the ambassadors stayed they went nearly every morning together
with Messer Geri to drink. When the time came for their departure
Messer Geri gave a fine banquet, to which he invited many of the most
honourable citizens, and he also invited Cisti, who would not go on
any account. So Messer Geri ordered one of his servants to go for a
flask of Cisti’s wine, and to serve half a glass of it to every guest
during the first course. The servant, perchance angered because he
had never been able to taste of the wine, took a large double flask,
and when Cisti saw it he said: My son, Messer Geri has not sent you
to me. The servant affirmed that he had, but not being able to obtain
any other reply, returned to Messer Geri and told him. And Messer Geri
said: Return, and tell him it is so, and if he answers thee in the
same fashion, ask him to whom I send thee. The servant went and said:
Of a surety, Cisti, Messer Geri sends me to thee. Cisti answered: And
I am sure, my son, it is not so. Well then, replied the servant, to
whom has he sent me? And Cisti said: To the Arno. And when the servant
brought this reply to Messer Geri the eyes of his intellect opened
and he said to the servant: Let me see what manner of flask thou hast
taken. And when he saw it he said: Cisti was right, and scolded the man
well and made him take a proper flask. When Cisti saw it he said: Now I
know Messer Geri has sent thee, and he filled it joyfully. And on the
same day he filled a small barrel with like wine and causing it to be
carried with all due care to the house of Messer Geri went there and
waited on him, saying: Messere, I would not that you should think that
the large flask of this morning alarmed me. Only it seemed to me that
you had forgotten what I said to you; that this is not everyday wine
for a family, and so I desired to remind you this day. Now as I do not
wish to act as your guardian, I have brought you all the wine to do
with as you will. Messer Geri accepted Cisti’s gift with great joy and
rendered him such thanks as were fitting, and ever after looked upon
him as a friend.”
Old Dino Compagni attributes the bitter hatred between the Cerchi and
the Donati, which brought such evils upon Florence, to the direct
agency of the devil, “abettor of all ill; who so arranged that a
company of youths who were riding together after supper one evening
on the calends of May, became so full of pride that they planned to
meet with a company of the Cerchi and use fists and swords against
them. On that evening, which is the renewal of springtide, women are
wont to dance with their neighbours. The young Cerchi met the company
of the Donati, amongst whom were Messer Corso’s nephew, Baldellino
de’ Bardi, Piero Spini and others, and they fell upon the Cerchi with
drawn swords. During the encounter Ricoverino de’ Cerchi had his nose
cut off by one of the Donati party, said to be Piero Spini, in whose
house they afterwards all took refuge. This stroke was the destruction
of our city, because from it arose great hatred among the citizens.
The Cerchi never said who did it, waiting to take signal vengeance.”
The old chronicler goes on to describe how in 1301, when Charles of
Valois stayed in the Frescobaldi palace in Florence, they and the
Spini fortified their palaces and erected machines on their towers
for throwing stones, so that together they could command Ponte a Sta.
Trinita. Messer Manetto Scali also made warlike preparations on his
palace, “so the Spini, whose large palace was opposite his, increased
their fortifications, knowing how powerful the Scali were. Thereupon
the two parties began to try and deceive each other and mutually made
friendly speeches. The Spini said to the Scali, Now why do we act
thus? After all we are friends and relatives, and all Guelphs; and our
only intent is to liberate our necks from the chain which the people
have put upon you and upon us, and then we shall be more powerful than
we are now. Therefore, by God, let us be one, as we ought to be.”
When later there was discord in Florence because the Ghibellines
wished to send an embassy to salute the Emperor Henry VII. who was at
Pisa, and the Guelphs, with Messer Rossa della Tosa, Messer Pazzino
de’ Pazzi, Messer Betto Brunelleschi and Messer Geri Spini at their
head, refused, old Dino finishes his chronicle with an outburst of
indignation. “Oh, iniquitous citizens, who have corrupted and vitiated
the whole world by evil ways and illicit gains. It is you who have
introduced every bad custom into the world, which now begins to revolt
against you. The Emperor, with his army will capture you and destroy
your riches on land and on sea.” But the Emperor soon afterwards died
at Buonconvento, so Dino’s prophecy came to nought.
Doffo Spini was killed at the battle of Montecatini in 1315, and
Nepo, his brother, was foremost among those citizens who expelled
the Duke of Athens, tyrant of Florence. In 1498 another Doffo Spini
made himself conspicuous by his virulent antagonism to Savonarola. He
was the leader of a band of young nobles who called themselves the
“Compagnacci,” and when the ordeal by fire was to take place Doffo,
at the head of three hundred well armed Compagnacci, forced his way
into the Piazza della Signoria in spite of the proclamation that armed
men should not enter. Violi tells us that Doffo Spini often went to
Botticelli’s workshop “and frequently said that they had no intention
of making the Franciscan enter the fire, and of this they had assured
him; it sufficed for them that he should continue the game long enough
to enable them to carry out their intention of putting an end to this
business of the Friar.” Doffo was one of the examiners appointed to
conduct the trial of the three friars, but according to the testimony
of Simone Filipepi, Botticelli’s brother, he seems afterwards to have
repented of his persecution of Savonarola.
In 1651 the northern half of the great palace was bought by Niccolò
Guasconi, and after his death it was sold to the Da Bagnano family,
from whom the Marchese Alessandro Feroni bought it in 1768. The other
half remained in the possession of the Spini until the death of the
last of the family, leaving an only daughter married to Gugliemo Del
Tovaglia. She had no children and made Luca Domenico Pitti her heir,
whose son Roberto Pitti Spini sold his half of the palace to the
Marchese Francesco Feroni in 1807. The southern façade rose straight
from the bed of the Arno and the street passed under the palace by a
long archway. Room after room and balcony after balcony overhanging the
river had been built until the height reached 60 braccie, and grave
fears were entertained for the stability of the building. So in July,
1823, that side of Palazzo Spini was taken down and the façade thrown
back to admit of the continuation of the Lung’Arno Acciaiuoli. In 1834
the whole palace was sold to Mde. Hombert, and the fine old building
was turned into an hotel. The Commune of Florence bought it in 1846,
and some years later it was admirably restored.
In the church of Sta. Trinita is a fresco by Domenico Ghirlandajo in
which Palazzo Spini is represented as it was in the XVth century.