Palazzo del Podestà, Medieval palace in central Asti, Italy
Palazzo del Podestà is a three-story structure of red brick standing where Via dei Cappellai meets Via Incisa, displaying round windows and ornamented facades. Inside, the building features cross vaults, a central brick pillar, and white-red decorative framing on the window openings.
This structure was built in the 13th century to serve as Asti's municipal seat, where the Podestà held authority over city affairs. The basement stored salt and grain, commodities vital to sustaining the medieval settlement.
The building reflects how medieval rulers displayed their authority through stone and brick, with decorative details that show the craftsmanship valued in that era. You can see how such structures anchored civic power in the town center.
The building sits in the old town center and makes a good starting point for exploring other medieval structures. You can walk from here to several towers nearby, including the Trojan Tower, Comentina Tower, and Guttuari Tower.
A marketplace once occupied the south side of the structure, revealing how this building stood at the heart of Asti's commerce. The market relocated to Piazza San Secondo in later times, yet its former presence is part of the building's story.
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