Vittorio Fossombroni was born in this impressive building, one of the city possessions of his noble family, on November 15, 1754. A mathematician, hydraulic engineer, economist and politician, under the Lorraine grand-duchy he was both author and superintendent of the reclamation works of the Valdichiana, which were carried out between the late 18th, early 19th century.

Property of the Commune of Arezzo since the first half of the 20th century, the building housed the Art Institute until the 1990s. Following refurbishing, it today houses the Department of Social Policies and Education of the Commune of Arezzo.

A monument by Pasquale Romanelli in 1867, situated in piazza San Francesco, commemorates the illustrious fellow-townsman.