Stancari and Ronchegalli Palace, now Rondinelli (Palazzo Stancari e Ronchegalli, ora Rondinelli)

On the southern side of Piazza Nuova (now Piazza Ariostea), there is a long arcaded complex, now known as Palazzo Rondinelli.

Prior to its purchase by the Rondinelli Counts (which took place in 1524 and, for the missing part, in 1632) the building consisted of two different units: one belonging to the munitions and factories officer Giovan Francesco Stancari, the other to Giovanni Roncagalli. The foundations and masonry works of the entire complex, which is 84 metres long, were built between 1494 and 1495 by Biagio Rossetti and paid for by the marquisate. In October of the same year, Giovanni Roncagalli signed a contract with the stonecutter Gabriele Frisoni from Mantua for the realisation of the stone works of his own palace (the thirteen arches on the left). The stonecutter had to follow the indications of the painter Ercole de’ Roberti.

Despite the greater updating of this portion of the building compared to that of Stancari, the desire for uniformity underlying the project and the desire of Ercole I d’Este to create, with the long portico, an ancient forum is evident.