Arengario, Medieval palazzo in Piazza Roma, Monza, Italy
The Arengario is a rectangular palazzo with a ground floor portico supported by stone columns and a large upper hall with wooden ceiling trusses. The structure showcases medieval construction methods and remains a defining feature of the central plaza.
Built in 1293 under podestà Pietro Visconti, the building served as Monza's town hall where civic assemblies took place. A stone balcony called the Parlera was added in 1380 as a key feature for addressing the public.
The main hall on the ground floor hosts art exhibitions and regional cultural events, making it a gathering place for visitors. The space continues to serve the community as a venue for public presentations.
Access to the upper floor is via a staircase in the northern tower, installed in 1904. The building is open during exhibitions and scheduled events throughout the year.
The Parlera, a stone balcony on the facade, once served as the city's main broadcast platform where municipal decrees were announced to crowds below. It stands as a reminder of how information traveled through direct address and word of mouth.
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