Palazzo dell'Arengo, Medieval palace on Piazza Arringo in Ascoli Piceno, Italy.
Palazzo dell'Arengo is a medieval palace with a striking travertine facade featuring five arches supported by cylindrical columns, and decorative stone carvings framing the windows. Inside, a vast hall with eight bays and cross-vaults rises through multiple levels, now divided between a festival costume collection on the ground floor and municipal offices and an art collection above.
The palace was built between the 12th and 14th centuries by joining two separate medieval structures into one coherent building. It later served as the papal governor's residence until around the mid-16th century, marking a significant phase in its role as a seat of power.
The name references the medieval 'Arengo', a citizen assembly that gathered here to make decisions affecting the city. Walking through the main hall, you can sense how this public space shaped communal life and civic participation.
The palace sits in the heart of the old town at a central square and is straightforward to reach on foot. Multiple levels are open to visitors, allowing you to move through the ground floor and upper sections at your own pace.
The main hall retains its original layout with cross-vaults that once served simultaneously as a courthouse, marketplace, and storage area. This multi-purpose use reveals how medieval buildings brought together different aspects of urban life under one roof.
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