Praetorian Palace, Gothic palace in central Koper, Slovenia.
Praetorian Palace is a Gothic structure located on Tito Square in downtown Koper, featuring a white stone facade decorated with double, triple, and quadruple lancet windows. The building occupies a prominent position in the square, with its vertical window arrangements creating strong visual lines across the stonework.
Construction began in the 13th century, when the structure was built between two existing buildings, and major reconstruction occurred after a Genoese attack damaged the original work. This later rebuilding shaped the Gothic style visible on the facade today.
The Renaissance portal del Corte from 1505 and late Baroque additions from 1664 show how the city layered different styles onto the building over time. You can see these changes in the stone details as you walk around the structure today.
The building houses administrative offices today and offers guided tours explaining its architectural features and background. Daytime visits work best for viewing the stone facade and seeing how the window details catch the light.
A stone lion relief called Bocca del Leone sits on a corner of the facade where citizens could leave anonymous messages for administrators. This unusual feature was an early system for collecting public feedback about governance and concerns.
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