Niccolò di Iacopo di Alberti

Niccolò was a banker and diplomat who belonged to the wealthy merchant banking family of Florence which had a significant role in European politics of the time.

During his lifetime began the ascent of the family, also known called as Alberti Del Giudice. Due to his agile management of the family’s bank branch at Avignon in France, which was at the time the seat of the Pope, the Alberti banking house became the almost exclusive banker of the papacy (1362).

From 1369, Niccolo held the post of co-director of the company, becoming its director in 1372. In meantime, he continued to expend family’s wealth and prestige in business and social circles.

Being strong supporter of the pro-papal Guelf party in Florence, he is awarded with several influential public offices – chief magistrate or prior (1355) and Gonfalonier of Justice (1363). Besides business, he was also interested in political and economic prosper of Florence. Therefore, he contributed to victory of Florence over the rival Pisa, and secured free entry for Florentine ships into the port of Pisa by treaty in 1369.

The notable patron of the arts, he built the family’s magnificent Villa del Paradiso, where he protected and encouraged men of arts and letters