Isolani

The members of the Isolani family were silk merchants coming from the island of Cyprus and established themselves in Bologna in the XIII century, moving in 1303 to Minerbio wher they became feudal lords. It has been reported that in 1270 Gualtiero form Nicosia, belonging to the acnient family of Lusignani from Cyprus, went to Bologna for his studies. While there he met and wed a noble lady from Bologna, starting the house of Isolani, so called from the fact that his origines were in the island  (isola in italian) of Cyprus. The Isolani family were Gonfalonieri di giustizia (upholders of the law) and in the year 1505 they obtained form Pope Leon X the title of Senators. The Isolani family already owned the Casa Mercanitle house in Strada Maggiore street at n. 19, built on the ruins of the 1210 fire and showing its medieval aspect still today, when in 1701 they inheritedPalazzo Isolani, at n. 16, from the Lupari family as a consequence of a marriage. In 1701 the two buildings were linked one to the other and in 1842 the Isolani family bought for the sum of 4.650 scudos the neighbouring Palazzo Bolognini (today n. 18) where the gourgeous XV century facade is a great achievement of Pagno di Lapo Portigiani from Tuscany, and they thus composed a single property form Strada Maggiore to Piazza S. Stefano.