Made wealthy by trading goods from the famous spice routes of the Far East (an activity that gave his name to Giiseppe Pepe, later converted to Pepi by his descendants) the family chose to make their home in a prestigious property in the centre of town, close to the Basilica de Santa Croce.

The Palace, built at the beginning of the 15th Century between 1441 and 1553, was enlarged by the aquisition of adjacent buildings. It was owned over the years by the Florentine aristocracy, such as the Strozzi family, the Pucci family and finally the Pepi family who had aquired a significant position in the social hierarchy of the town. Since that time, this historic building has remained the seat of the Pepi family who have over the years sympathetically transformed its interior.

The Palace developed around a superb rectangular internal courtyard which was originally linked to a second garden by a vaulted loggia.

Much care and attention has been lavished on a spectacular Acacia Rubinia plant which has extended over the years to provide shading to the second floor terrace.

The most intriguing element remains the exquisite original fresco which decorates two sides of the courtyard.

Whilst sadly, on one side the delicate outline has been totally lost, the southern side has retained all its charm and was recently restored by expert artists. With long and painstaking work, this celebrated courtyard has finally regained its rare and precious biblical ornamentation and this outstanding jewel has been restored to the town.

• Palazzo Pepi su Wikipedia