Palazzo del Drago

The Palazzo del Drago has a complex structure that spans multiple floors and levels and covers half a hectare in the historic centre of Bolsena. It features an imposing north-facing façade that dominates the entrance to the town, while to the south, it blends in with the other architectural structures. Inside the Palazzo, visitors will discover impressive frescoes by Prospero Fontana, frescoed loggias, salons, galleries, a chapel, a valuable library, terraces with views of Lake Bolsena, hanging rooftop gardens and a 2,500m2 park meticulously landscaped with various types of plants, flowers and vegetable gardens.

The history of Palazzo del Drago
The Palazzo was built around 1520 at the behest of Cardinal Tiberio Crispo, the governor of Bolsena, who had close ties to the Farnese family and Pope Paul III. An entire loggia, the ‘Loggia Paolina’, was in fact dedicated to the Pope, which features the papal coat of arms and the Farnese lily on its wooden ceiling. The architectural project was overseen by Simone Mosca. Starting from the 1600s, the Palazzo passed to the Spada family, who owned it until 1890 when Maria Angelica Spada Veralli married Ferdinando del Drago. From that point on, the property passed to the Princes del Drago. After the Second World War, a period during which this historical residence was abandoned, the structure underwent significant renovation and artistic restoration work by the del Drago family.