Seemingly an Antonio da Sangallo the Young’s willing, the Ruffeti Palace (now “Bufalieri”) was built in Toffia by Fabrizio Ruffetti in 1596, as the commemorative inscription placed on the string course under the top-level windows reminds us – it was later completed by his son, Mario.
Monsignor Mario Ruffetti, with a will in 1632, donated the palace to the Farfa Abbey, in 1637 obtained from Pope Urban VIII – with the involvement of Francesco Barberini, Abbot of Farfa – the ability to install a seminary for the education of young people from Farfa and San Salvatore Maggiore abbeys.
In 1746, the new Abbot of Farfa, Cardinal Federico Lante della Rovere, moved the seminary to the monastery of St. Salvatore Maggiore in Concerviano (RI).
One of the main reason of the transfer to such a remote place can be seemingly found in the book “Establishment of the Episcopal Seminary decreed by the Council of Trent by Leonardo Cecconi”, printed in Rome in 1766, where we read that “… The site for seminars is determined to be near the same Churches Cathedrals … to be more distant from ‘the Century disorders. This much Deesis do with young people, very addicted to distraction, and much in need to apply, and to learn the ecclesiastical discipline … “, and among the examples of this conduct it is clearly reported the case of the transfer from Toffia ” … from the ensuing time significant benefit to the youth … “.
Perfeclty merging the Bufalieri family’s vocation, the palace educational shape is not completely lost nowadays, and in the Mid – twentieth century became the seat of the Primary Schools of Toffia.
Large windows on the main floor and small openings at the top level; the roadway connecting the gates with extensive cellars can be clearly distinguished on the facade.
On the ground floor – on the left of the beautiful portal with rusticated travertine arch – there is a small chapel with an altar dedicated to St. Philip Blacks, which exhibits a copy of the New Church of Rome altarpiece.
In the chapel, a crucifix belonged to St. Colomba of Rieti is today venerated. The palace is bound.