PALAZZO CASALI (16th century) Legend has it the Casali Palace was built on the area of old Etruscan and Roman buildings, which there are visible remains of in the cellars of the nearby "Cassa di Risparmio" (a bank). In the Middle Ages after the inauguration of an autonomous Comune, the Abbot of Farneta constructed a few houses, which became the residence of the Consulate of the Terziere di Santa Maria (the headquarters of the council of the medieval neighborhood called Saint Mary). It was later bought by the Casali family, who became the Signori of Cortona (1325) and built their palace on the same spot. After the fall of the Casali family and of the free Comune, the Florentine administration established itself in the building. Between 1613 and 1621 they completely expanded and crests belonging to these administrators can be seen on the interior walls of the courtyard and on the external walls on the right of the building, which now houses the Accademia Etrusca ( The Etruscan Academy), its museum and the libraries of the Comune and of the Academy, as well as the Civic Historical Archives. Because of its arrangement, this place of history is considered today as the Palace of Culture.