The history of Palazzo Fulcis through its decorations
The palace that has housed the city’s historical and artistic civic collections since 2017 was likely the residence of the Fulcis family as early as the 16th century. Having grown wealthy through agricultural holdings, the timber trade, and other enterprises, the Fulcis were incorporated into the city’s nobility in 1512 by direct intervention of the Republic of Venice (the Serenissima).
However, it was only in the eighteenth century that they made significant changes to the palace, undertaking a series of structural and decorative works that gave it the appearance which has now been restored after a lengthy renovation.
The key milestones in this transformation can be traced back to two major events in the family’s history: Pietro Fulcis’s admission to the Order of Malta in 1702, and the marriage of Guglielmo Fulcis to Francesca Migazzi de Waal e Sonnenthun, niece of the Archbishop of Vienna, celebrated in 1776.
Wood Art at Palazzo Fulcis: A Journey from Its Origins to the Nineteenth Century
For the inhabitants of the valleys of Belluno, wood has always been the quintessential raw material: used to build homes, regulate waterways, shore up mine tunnels, produce the charcoal needed to fuel furnaces, heat houses during the winter, and, moreover, to supply the Venetian arsenal with materials for the construction of merchant and war ships.
Art, too, finds in wood a widely available and versatile medium, employed as a support for paintings, for the creation of frames, furniture in homes and palaces, the furnishings and architectural elements of church altars, and, naturally, for sculpture—serving as a substitute for stone, which was more expensive and difficult to transport.
While many woodworkers have shaped the history of these lands, only a few artists have truly harnessed its potential, refining their skill and creativity in the workshops of other masters in the major centers of Veneto—especially in Venice—and ultimately leaving behind masterpieces in the Belluno area that we can still admire today.
This itinerary offers a journey through the main testimonies of this history, within the halls of the Civic Museum of Belluno.
Complete Visit Itinerary - Palazzo Fulcis
Welcome to Palazzo Fulcis, an elegant 18th-century noble residence in the heart of Belluno. The tour winds its way through paintings, sculptures, and furnishings from the city’s civic collections, displayed in a setting that enhances both the artworks and the architecture of the palace.
Itinerary for Families - Palazzo Fulcis
Welcome to Palazzo Fulcis, an elegant historic residence in the heart of Belluno. Your visit will lead you through vibrant rooms, paintings, sculptures, and curious objects from the city’s collections. The exhibition is designed to help you appreciate not only the works of art but also the beauty of the palace itself, making the experience enjoyable and engaging for both adults and children.
