THE PALAZZO COMUNALE (Town Hall)

The Palazzo Comunale, which ocupies one of the sides of Piazza della Libertà, was built in 1860 to a design by E. Pallotta of Tolentino, who restructured and enlarged the Palazzo dei Priori (Priors’ Palace), originally Palazzo del Podestà (Podesta’s Palace). The Palazzo del Podestà had in fact been moved, in the mid-15^th century, to the south side of the main square (what remains of this building can still be seen in the Palazzo Brancadori). Inside the Palazzo, the Council Chamber was decorated with frescoes by Pallotta, who is also the author of many of the portraits of illustrious people of

Tolentino which can be admired in the Marriage Chamber. In the centre of the ceiling of the Council Chamber we can admire a canvas by Giuseppe Lucatelli of Tolentino, representing the “Three Graces”. As far as the exterior is concerned, the 18^th century open gallery which can be seen nowadays replaces the original portico resting on slender columns.
Before the building was restructured, the façade was decorated with images of the Madonna and St Nicholas, as well as with the public clock, which was later moved to the bell tower of the nearby Church of San Francesco.