History

Giovanni Battista Rinuccini, Archbishop and Prince of Fermo, 1592-1653

RINUCCINI was a Florentine noble, his father Senator Camillo Rinuccini and his mother, the sister of cardinal Ottavio. He was born in Rome and form his earliest years had been a diligent scholar, first at the Jesuit College in Rome and later at the Universities of Bologna and Perugia, where he studied law.

In 1614, he was awarded a doctorate from Pisa. It was at this time he was Chamberlain of Honour and then Secretary to the Congregation of Rites, Urban VIII made him Archbishop Of Fermo in 1625 and he remained there a further seventeen years, until Urban’s successor, Pope Innocent V appointed him Nuncio to Ireland.

Kilkenny was the capital of Ireland at the time of the ‘Confederation’ and it was here that Rinuccini spent his four year term as Papa Nuncio where he was held with great respect by laity and clergy alike , for his refinement and patronage of the Arts and Fine food. He was reported to have coined the phrase while he was here “A tavola… Quattro chiacchiere… Il gusto… la tradizione Italiana”.

Experience our history and immerse yourself in the culture of Rinuccini’s by visiting our restaurant today or reserving a table for you or your friends.