Palazzo Comunale

Palazzo Comunale, also known as Palazzo del Municipio, houses the Town Hall of Pordenone. The palace is located at the southern end of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, in Piazza San Marco.

SHORT HISTORY

The palace, originally called lozza, was built probably at the end of the 13th century, in the oldest and most elevated part of the town, near the Cathedral of San Marco and the port on the Noncello River.

For a long time, the Loggia was used for justice and official meetings, and the upper hall was used as a warehouse, armory, or for theatrical performances and entertainment.

In 1542, the facade of the palace was enriched with gothic pinnacles after a design by the painter Pomponio Amalteo, pupil and son-in-law of Giovanni Antonio de’ Sacchis, better known as Il Pordenone.

In 1626, the council hall was adorned with the painting of Alessandro Varotari, Il Padovanino, representing San Marco and the Justice, commissioned specifically for this space. After 1800, the same hall hosted other works of art, and became the city’s art gallery until the establishment of the Palazzo Ricchieri Museum in 1970.

In the 1920s, the council decided to expand the palace, to gather in one place the offices that were scattered throughout the city. In 1925, the task of enlargement was given to the architect Cesare Scoccimarro. The new building, completed in 1928, was adjacent to the original Loggia.

In the mid-fifties of the 20th century, due to the continuous growth of the municipal needs, it was decided to further expand the Town Hall. This new project was given to the architect Ignazio Cardarella and was carried out between 1957 and 1976.

ARCHITECTURE

The palace has a trapezoidal plan and part of the ground floor is occupied by a portico with large pointed arches. On the upper floor, we can find a balcony and 2 three-light windows, surmounted by a large astronomical clock, built after 1542 by the Rainieri brothers. Two stone moors were placed on top of the clock, striking the hours.

HOW TO GET THERE

Palazzo Comunale is located about 600 meters away from the Pordenone railway station. The closest bus stop is in Via Riviera del Pordenone, about 150 meters away, on the bus Lines 2, 3, 4, 5/, 6 and 7.