The institution of the Monte di Pieta (Mount of Piety) was established at Padua by Bishop Pietro Barozzi in 1491. The concept of the institution had originally been encouraged by Beato Bernardino da Feltre: the purpose was to lend money in exchange for the temporary deposit of goods and objects. The cost of the loans was very low, and permitted the very poor to avoid the suffering of usury. In 1519 the Paduan Monte di Pieta asked the Venetian government for title to what is now known as 'Palazzo del Monte' to serve as seat for the corporation. Renovation of the building began in 1530, after a severely damaging fire. The architect Giovan Maria Falconetto planned for a new facade to be inserted in the 14th century portico that survived. The six arcs of the portico, in elegant classical style, are similar to those of the other buildings of the late 1200s and early 1300s, such as the Palazzo del Podesta and Palazzo degli Anziani. These porticos are built in blocks of trachite, as is also the Fondaco delle Biade, built by Fra Giovanni of the Eremites in 1302. Further renovations were carried out on the side of the building in Via Monte di Pieta, in the early 1600s, with the acquisition of buildings from the Camerlinghi (Venetian financial officers). Here, a robust facade in Mannerist style was erected by Vicenza Dotto between 1611 and 1613. Further interior modifications were conducted in the 1800s.
Today it is the headquarters of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo and is organizing important exhibitions.
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