First it was knights, now it is mathematicians; for centuries, students have been coming to this renowned building to study.
Palazzo del Collegio Puteano (Palace of the Putean College) was once a residence for travelling students. Now it is one of Italy’s best universities. The college is the smallest building on the Knight’s Square (Piazza dei Cavalieri), although it occupies the whole western side of the square. Today the Scuola Normale uses the building. While it’s not open to visitors outside the university, it is worth taking photographs of the exterior.
The Palace of the Putean College was initially a series of separate houses that, throughout the second half of the 16th century, were joined together. For a number of centuries it was home to the knights of St. Stephen and visiting students from other parts of Italy resided in some of its quarters. The significantly decorated and years-old façade are all that are left of the college’s former purpose.
Like many of the buildings in Pisa, the façade is fading from the glare of the Tuscan sun. The exterior is a burnt brown colour. The decorations, which were the central feature, now have the muted colours and smooth texture of a beautiful old building. This finish is evident in many historic Tuscan structures and heightens the area’s old-world appeal. See the symbolic 17th-century frescoes by Giovanni Stefano Marucelli on the walls.
The building is only accessible to people associated with the university. It’s used mostly as a research facility by the maths department. In keeping with the palazzo’s heritage, the university still hosts visiting students in the guest quarters.
The Palace of the Putean College can be found on the Knight’s Square. It’s easily accessible by foot and bus from anywhere in central Pisa. If coming by car, note that parking in the historic centre of the city is notoriously difficult. It is advised to park on the south side of the river and walk or catch the bus to the college.
