The most imposing building in Piazza del Campo is the Palazzo Pubblico with the very large tower next to the Torre della Mangia. Also called Communal Palace, it was built between 1297 and 1310 by the Government of the Nine of the Republic of Siena, as their own seat.
Today, the town hall still occupies part of its walls.
Presentation and tour
The façade of the palace, which was made of stones at the bottom and then of bricks, was crowned with crenellations, reflecting a change in style at the end of the construction. At the centre of the tower is a large white marble disc with the monogram of Christ.
At the foot of the tower, the Cappella di Piazza is made of marble and was built in 1352, shortly after the completion of the tower, in gratitude to the Virgin at the end of a decade of plague that ravaged Siena.
The floors are occupied by the Civic Museum of Siena (Museo Civico) where you can see the rooms of the former government of the Sienese Republic of the Middle Ages. These are decorated with sumptuous frescoes related to the history of Siena including the famous Allegory of the Good and Bad Government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. There is also the theatre of the Teatro Comunale dei Rinnovati, and on the second floor the various rooms including the Council Hall and the Loggia dei Nove which overlooks the other side of the palace in Piazza Mercato.
Torre del Mangia
The 102-metre high Torre del Mangia tower, built by the Rinaldo brothers and completed in 1348. It is the second highest tower in Italy.
The 400 steps lead to the top where you can enjoy a splendid view of the Piazza del Campo and the city. It is named after its first bell-ringer, the Mangiaguadagni (Mange Gains in English).
Its square base is 7 meters wide and 88 meters high. It is surmounted by a metal structure with the bell (dated 1666) and the lightning rod.
Gallery
Admission tickets
Where is Palazzo Pubblico, map
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Informations
Sources and links
- Official websites : museocivico.comune.siena.it, Torre del Mangia sur www.comune.siena.it
- More informations : Palazzo Pubblico on Wikipedia, Torre del Mangia on Wikipedia
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