Palazzo dei Consoli
Palazzo dei Consoli is a medieval building in Gubbio, Umbria, central Italy. It was built in 1332–1349 under design by Angelo da Orvieto, who is mentioned in the inscription on the portal.
Description
The palace has a square plan, and sits above a series of terraces corresponding to the building's lower floors.
The façade on the square is in stone, with round arched windows in the upper part, placed in couples separated by lesenes. Above them are the merlons, supported by ogival arches.
The lower part features mullioned windows enclosing the Gothic-style portal, with a 16th-century fresco in the lunette. The portal, preceded by a fan-shaped staircase, leads to the arengo, a big hall with barrel vaults that, in the communal age, housed the citizens' meeting.
The palace was the first in the city served by a public hydraulic system, which fed a fountain in the interior. Here is also the Civic Museum (Museo civico). This includes an art gallery and archaeological findings from the local ancient Roman Theatre and other sites, such as the Iguvine Tablets.
Another features is an iron cage which was once used for public humiliation of robbers and criminals.
Sources
- Touring Club Italiano-La Biblioteca di Repubblica, L'Italia: Umbria. Touring editore. 2004.
