Palazzo Minciotti is in the heart of the upper part of Assisi, directly across from the Cathedral of San Rufino. It has been in the Minciotti family since the early 19th century and was part of the dowry of Countess Giulia Cilleni Nepis, the descendent of a noble family whose title goes back to the Middle Ages. Giulia's father, a famous Assisi painter, was one of the first to use lithography as a medium.

The Cilleni Nepis are mentioned in books about the history of Assisi. The family is always cited in relation to the Fiumi family, its historic and most bitter rival. Over the centuries, the vicious fighting between these two illustrious families characterized the very history of the city. Though the rivalry between the family scions still continues, time has mitigated it, turning it into a civilized, good-humoured exchange of ideas.

Today Palazzo Minciotti belongs to Edoardo and Sofia Minciotti, who have followed in the footsteps of their father, Salvatore, to keep it in excellent condition through restoration. They have thus attempted to maintain its original appearance on both the interior and exterior. The family has fortunately managed to maintain the building and its extensive garden as a single property, without selling off any portions. The ancient rose gardens that were so carefully tended by the Minciotti forebears have now been restored in the garden, which has a lovely view of the Rocca Maggiore, the fortress built by a condottiere loyal to the pope. Black roses and Damascene roses - rare specimens in that era - were supposedly grown in the garden. There is also a swimming pool, the only innovation in this authentic and untouched setting. The pool is small, as it is the only one in the centre of an art city.

Like many nineteenth-century families, the Minciotti family was a large one. Countess Giulia and Salvatore Minciotti Sr had eight children. However, only one of them - Edoardo, the grandfather of the current proprietors - married, and he in turn had only one son. Of the eight children, three took holy orders. Notably, Matilde was the abbess of the Benedictine Convent for 25 years, and she courageously faced the Fascist period. She hid many Jewish families in the convent, saving them from the persecution of those dark years. An American film, Assisi Underground, portrays these episodes of racial intolerance and how the Jews were protected by the Benedictines under the guidance of Abbess Matilde Minciotti.

The family coat of arms and the photograph of Giulia and Salvatore, surrounded by their children, are displayed in the foyer. The apartment furniture, particularly the iron beds, is authentic, as are several other pieces of furniture and paintings.