 Giorgio Spavento is believed to have been responsible for the addition of the grand spiral staircase on the exterior in 1499.The Palazzo del Bovolo was chosen by Orson Welles as one of the main locations (Brabantio's house) for his 1952 adaptation of Shakespeare's "Othello", and the staircase is prominently featured in the film.The staircase was closed to the public for restoration work which began in August 2015 but is now open.