Palazzo del Commune - Pistoa - Tuscany

The Palazzo del Comune is also known as Palazzo Giano , Palazzo del Gonfaloniere di Giustizia and Palazzo degli Anziani . Anziani is the Italian word for the elderly and the Gonfaloniere di Giustizia was none other than the “Standbearer of Justice”.

It was built towards the end of the 13th century by order of the Giano della Bella , the then podestà (a kind of late medieval mayor).

At the beginning of the 14th century the palace was enlarged and the portico was added to the facade. Its completion took place in 1348.

In 1637 a walkway was built between the cathedral and the Palazzo Comunale , so that magistrates could enter the church directly from a meeting. This one is known as Pantaleone Quadri .

During the Medici family's reign, this family's coat of arms with the papal symbols of Leo X (the tiara and keys) were attached above it to the façade.

The black marble head with an iron stick above it is said to belong to the traitor Filippo Tedici , according to popular legend. In reality it was probably the head of Musetto II of Majorca , who was killed by a Pistoie captain in the 12th century. ( Tedici 's head is depicted on the Sant'Andrea church and is said to be black because the lanterns were extinguished before entering the church in contempt for the traitor.)

If you look closely, you can see that the right arch of the facade, built later, is slightly wider and rounder than the other four.

Highlights include the monumental staircase built in the 16th century and the bronze sculpture by Marino Martini entitled “The Miracle” in the courtyard. Marini (1901-1980) was a modern artist born in Pistoia itself.

The Palazzo degli Anziani is the seat of the Museo Civico (“City Museum”) and of the Centro di Documentazione dell'opera di Giovanni Michelucci . The latter was founded in 1980 and is dedicated to the life and work of this Pistoia architect, who died in 1990. About 900 drawings by Michelucci are on display.

The works in the Museo Civico span a period spanning the 13th to the 20th century.

Willem Vandenameele