Palazzo Pretorio - Tribunale di Pistoia - Tuscany

The Palazzo Pretorio or Palazzo del Podestà was originally created to house the police and magistrates of justice, and is located in front of the Piazza del Duomo of Pistoia, Tuscany region, Italy. The current building, which is mainly a neo-Gothic construction of the 19th century, now houses the local courts of Pistoia (Tribunale di Pistoia).

History and description
The imposing three-storey building that can be seen today stands on the site of the former Palazzo Pretorio and reuses the main portal, some of the stained glass windows on the first floor (four on the left) and elements in the courtyard on the ground floor. The original building was one story high with a courtyard, stables and barracks. It was built in 1367 to enlarge the apartment of the Podesta and his men. In 1842 the building was in need of major structural repairs and the city chose to build the current building in an imposing but anachronistic style. The design was by Giuseppe Faldi. The work continued until after 1892.

On the lower floor are painted and carved coats of arms of various leaders, which have been in the building since the 15th century, but many of which were the result of reproductions made during the 19th century restoration. By this time, the podesta had been abolished and the building became home to the local tribunal, for which it is still used today.

Willem Vandenameele