Casa del Mercante

This magnificent house, situated on the corner between Piazza Mantegna and Piazza Erbe, onto which it faces out, was built in 1455 at the behest of Concorezzo family from Brianza, the most prominent figures of which were the father Bertone and his son Giovanni Boniforte. After they moved to the city, these wool merchants became considerably wealthy. Their good relations with the Court of the Gonzaga and the Marquis Ludovico in particular inspired them to construct this residence, which is still a prominent landmark of the historic centre, at that time the subject of substantial urban redevelopment. The new buildings stood alongside more simple houses, which were often owned my merchant families and display clear traces of decorative elements inspired by the architectural style of Fancelli. So in addition to the magnificence of the Court and the numerous religious buildings, there are also accounts of the private splendour of old family dynasties.