Description of the attraction
Palazzo Communale, also known as Palazzo D'Accursio, is the castle of the Bologna City Council located in the western part of Piazza Maggiore. Since it stands on a hill, you can see it from almost anywhere in the city. On the right side of the Palazzo there is an art gallery with works by masters of the 13-19th centuries - among others, there is a painting by the great painter Piero della Francesca "The Resurrection of Christ". Also inside the palace is the Morandi Museum with works by Giorgio Morandi donated to the city by members of his family. The museum was opened in 1993. And on the facade there is a huge bronze monument to Pope Gregory XIII, who was a native of Bologna and deserved the glory of a reformer. The author of the sculpture is Alessandro Menganti.
Initially, the Palazzo Communale served as the residence of the famous Italian lawyer and professor at the University of Bologna, Francis Accorzo - hence the second name of the palace. Since 1336, meetings of the Elders, the highest ranks of the city, began to be held here, and then the entire administration of Bologna ceased here. In the 15th century, the building of the Palazzo was restored by Fioravante Fioravanti, who built the Torre D'Accursio clock tower. The main attraction of the façade is the retractable grate and the terracotta statue of the Madonna and Child by Niccolò del Arca. In the Hall of the City Council on the first floor, you can see frescoes depicting senators of Bologna and events from the history of the city. Two flights of stairs from the late 16th century lead to the second floor in the Hall of Farnese, rebuilt in 1665 at the initiative of Cardinal Girolamo Farnese - earlier the hall was called Royal, since it was here that Charles V was crowned in 1530. There is also a small chapel with frescoes by Prospero Fontana.
