Government Building sights in Italy
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A
Basilica di Santa Chiara
Vast, Gothic and cleverly deceptive, this mighty basilica is actually a 20th-century re-creation of Gagliardo Primario’s 14th-century original. Commissioned by Robert of Anjou for his wife Sancia di Maiorca, the hulking complex was built to house 200 monks and the tombs of the Angevin royal family. Dissed as a ‘stable’ by Robert’s ungrateful son Charles of Anjou, it received a luscious baroque makeover by Domenico Antonio Vaccaro, Gaetano Buonocore and Giovanni Del Gaizo four centuries later, before taking a direct hit during an Allied air raid on 4 August 1943. Features that survived the fire include part of a 14th-century fresco to the left of the main door and a chapel…
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Palazzo dei Trecento
Piazza dei Signori is dominated by the fine brick Palazzo dei Trecento, the one-time seat of city government. Beneath the vaults you can stop for coffee and wistfully contemplate the worn 16th-century Fontana delle Tette (Tits Fountain), from whose breasts red and white wine flowed for three days each year on the appointment of a new town governor. The practice ended with the fall of Venice in 1797, itself enough reason for the locals to regret the passing of La Serenissima.
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B
Treasury
Several treasures, such as the magnificent Golden Mantle (1668) designed by Innocenzo Mangani as a 'cloak' for the picture of La Madonna della Lettera (The Madonna of the Letter) that now sits on the altar, are kept in the Piazza del Duomo's treasury. The letter the Madonna is supposed to have written was a blessing on the city of Messina, which suffered a terrible famine after converting to Christianity in AD 42.
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C
Palazzo Comunale
Overlooking Piazza Grande, which is Montepulciano’s highest point, is the Palazzo Comunale. Built in the 13th-century Gothic style and remodelled in the 15th century by Michelozzo, it still functions as the town hall. On a clear day, you can see as far as the Monti Sibillini to the east and the Gran Sasso to the southeast from the top of its tower.
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D
Santa Maria della Scala
In the basement of this former pilgrims’ hospital is the Sala dei Pellegrinaio clad in vivid secular frescoes (quite a relief after so much spirituality all around town) by Domenico di Bartolo, lauding the good works of the hospital and its patrons. There’s also a collection of Roman and Etruscan remains.
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E
Palazzo del Governo
Taranto's new town is a pleasant surprise. It has a truly urbane atmosphere, with sleek shopping streets shooting off the impressive palm-planted Piazza Garibaldi which is dominated by the gigantic rust-red 1920s Palazzo del Governo .
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F
Municipio
Just beyond the limits of the Marina quarter stands the grand pile that is the town hall, or Municipio. A capricious neogothic affair, it was built from 1899 to 1913 and faithfully reconstructed after bombing in 1943.
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Lingotto Fiere
Around 3km south of the city centre is the Lingotto Fiere, Turin’s former Fiat factory, which was redesigned by architect Renzo Piano into a congress and exhibition centre.
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G
Sedile
The Sedile was the seat of the Town Hall until 1851; the large glass windows were a literal demonstration of governmental transparency.
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H
Palazzo Comunale
On the eastern side of the main square is the arcaded Palazzo Comunale, formerly known as the Palazzo Senatorio (Senatorial Palace).
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I
Palazzo del Sedile
The Palazzo del Sedile has been much altered over time. It was the medieval headquarters of Bari's Council of Nobles.
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J
Palazzo Comunale
Across the square is Palazzo Comunale which dates to the 13th century. It was, and remains, the town hall.
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K
Municipio
On the western side of the Piazza del Municipio is the grand neoclassical Municipio.
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