Palazzo Publico

Lonely Planet review

The Palazzo Publico sits on the site of the old Domus Communis Magna, or Large Communal House. Best guestimates put the Domus's date of construction somewhere between 1380 and 1392.

The first stone was laid in 1884 to specifications by architectural designer Francesco Azzurri and the work was undertaken by local stonecutters using stones extracted from the nearby Monte Titano caves. On its inauguration, the now renowned speech on 'perpetual liberty' was delivered by local citizen and early republican Giosuè Carducci. The building is all richly carved stone, polygonal balconies, castellated battlements, and memento mories to the republic's saintly heroes, San Marino and San Leo. There are also a number of older art pieces that are worth a look: under the porch you'll find a marble bust of the architect Azzurri, sculpted by Giulio Tadolini; a bust of Carducci; and a staircase that takes you up to the next floor with its 60-seat counsellor room, congress hall and auditorium, plus a voting room that looks out upon Pianello, or Piazza della Liberta Square.