Placed on the left of the Cathedral, and accessible by a staircase, the Palace was commissioned by Bishop Angelo Cesi in 1593. It was built where the Canons’ houses were situated, as a residence worthy of a Renaissance Prince and Patron.
The building was structured on four floors: downstairs, at the garden level (called “Bishop’s orchard), currently abandoned, there were the kitchens, the stables, the cellars and the warehouses. The first floor was accessible by the main entrance, attributed to Vignola, and housed the curia, the chancery and the archive. From there, a monumental staircase would lead to the piano nobile which housed the Sala del trono (throne Room) conceived as a State Room and glorification of the Bishop authority, where hearings would take place. The room, frescoed by Ferraù de Faenza, included the cartouches and the portaits of all the pastors of Todi from St. Terenziano to Angelo Cesi. On the same floor, the private chapel and the Gallery, frescoed by painter Andrea Polinori with episodes of Todi history, were placed. From there, the Bishop’s private halls, currently used as Diocesan library, could be reached. Finally, the fourth and last floor was addressed to the servants, only.