Piazza del Comune ( The Town Square)
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Piazza del Comune ( The Town Square)
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The square is in the centre of the city and is the hub of the social, cultural and political life of Assisi. Well preserved (as is the entire historic district), its buildings have witnessed all the historic events of the city over the centuries. |
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| Foro
Romano (Roman forum)
Here, visitors can admire inscriptions, epigraphs, sarcophaguses, segments of columns and capitals from the Roman era. Past the entrance halls (Crypt of St. Nicholas) a long and evocative hallway leads to what was once the ancient city square, with paving and the base of a temple. The archaeological area has recently been restructured to improve it for visitors.
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Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo (Palace of the Captain of the People) It was built in 1282 and was the headquarters of the Captain of the People, the commander of the city militia. Towards the end of the fourteenth century, it became the residence of the Podestà, or the Papal Vicar, and only later was it used for other purposes, but without losing its original name. It is composed of three floors with a row of four windows per floor and four doors on the ground floor. The top is embellished with Guelph crenellation. Today, it is the headquarters for the International Society of Franciscan Studies. |
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| Torre
del Popolo (Tower
of the People)
It has a square plan and its construction dates to the second half of the thirteenth century. However, it was built in several stages and the top floor was not finished until 1305. The clock was installed in the mid-fifteenth century. The tower held both the Communal Land Registry and the Board of Notaries. The Bell of the Lauds, donated to Assisi by the townships of Italy and weighing 4000 kg, was installed in 1926. The Canticle of the Creatures is etched on it. |
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| Minerva's
Temple
(Temple of Minerva)
The elegant facade with six fluted columns and Corinthian capitals is the most important structure remaining in Assisi from the Roman era. The interior of the temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva was transformed into a Christian church (Santa Maria sopra Minerva) and the temple itself dates to the first century AD. At one time, it was also the headquarters of the Captain of the People. |
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The Fountain It was built by Giovanni Martinucci in 1762.
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| Palazzo
dei Priori (Prior's
Palace)
It is composed of three sections constructed
in different periods and, as its name indicates, it was the residence of
the city priors. The oldest part is the one near the foundation (thirteenth
century) and restored in 1926, followed by the central part (also
thirteenth century), while the third part dates to the fifteenth century.
The palace now holds City Hall, other public offices and the city picture
gallery. |
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| Pinacoteca
Comunale (city
picture gallery)
The current location of the city picture gallery in Piazza del Comune dates to 1933, thanks above all to the work of historian Arnaldo Fortini, Podestà of Assisi, who made it possible to give the numerous works comprising the gallery a more worthy setting. In 1974, the works (over 100) were rearranged into their current layout. Important works include the Majesty, the Virgin with Jesus on a throne, Three men in arms, and Our Lady with Jesus and St. Francis.
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