The north-west angle of the palace facade on the square is characterized by the turret of the Aviary. The low round building, built in 1480 had originally the function of angular turret around which the canal flew.
A similar structure used to be in the southern part of the facade and was destroyed around 1770 to allow the construction of Palazzo Scacchetti. At the beginning of the XVI century it was turned by Alberto Pio III into a nymphaeum with a secret garden behind, directly connected to the prince’s study. The name of Aviary may come, more than from the presence of a real bird aviary, from the presence of frescoes in the upper part of the tower showing rare birds and game in a natural background.
