The seat of the Francesco Podesti Civic Art Gallery is, since 1973, the historic Palazzo Bosdari in via Pizzecolli, to which a new building, Palazzo Bonomini, has recently been added. The renovation work has made it possible to considerably expand the exhibition spaces and has brought to light a portion of the walls and the base of a tower incorporated in the basement of Palazzo Bosdari, now used as a ticket office with entrance from Vicolo Foschi, a small street next to the church of Santa Maria della Piazza.
The Pinacoteca is dedicated to the painter Francesco Podesti (1800-1895) from Ancona, who promoted its institution between 1880 and 1888 by donating many of his works, mainly cartoons and sketches; to these were added works from churches, municipal funds, deposits and gifts from private individuals. The collection, one of the most important in the Marche region, boasts absolute masterpieces among which are the wonderful "Pala Gozzi" by Tiziano Vecellio, the first autograph work of the Venetian master, the "Madonna with Child" by Carlo Crivelli, the "Sacra Conversazione", also known as the "Pala dell’Alabarda", by Lorenzo Lotto, and works by Olivuccio di Ceccarello, Sebastiano Del Piombo, Andrea Lilli, il Guercino, Carlo Maratti, Francesco Podesti and many others.
The Museum also houses an important collection of modern art with works by Anselmo Bucci, Corrado Cagli, Edgardo Mannucci, Piero Dorazio, Maria Lai, Ivo Pannaggi, Umberto Peschi, Valeriano Trubbiani, Enzo Cucchi and other artists largely linked to the history of the prestigious Premio Marche. In the new layout there is also a section dedicated to temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists.
