Description of the attraction
Piazza del Comune is a square located in the very center of Assisi and is the focus of the city's social, cultural and political life. Its well-preserved historic buildings have witnessed Assisi's tumultuous life over the centuries.
Thus, in the Roman Forum you can see wall inscriptions, epigraphs, sarcophagi, parts of antique columns and capitals that have come down to us since the time of Ancient Rome. Right behind the entrance (crypt of the ruined church of San Nicolo), a long corridor begins, evoking thoughts of the past and leading to the place where the town square with the foundations of an ancient temple was once located. More recently, this archaeological site has been refurbished to better meet the needs of tourists.
Here, on Piazza del Comune, stands the medieval Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, built in 1282. Then it housed the residence of the head of the Assisi city squad, and by the end of the 14th century it became the residence of the Podestà, the head of the city. Later the palace was used for various purposes, but it never changed its name. The palazzo consists of three floors with a row of four windows on each and four doors on the ground floor. The top of the building is decorated with Guelph battlements. Today, Palazzo del Capito del Popolo houses the International Society for the Study of the Heritage of the Franciscans.
Another attraction of Assisi's main square is the square tower of Torre del Popolo, erected in the second half of the 13th century. The top floor of the tower was completed in 1305, and the clock was installed on it only in the middle of the 15th century. Once it housed the Land Registration and the Chamber of Notaries. A huge bell weighing 4 thousand kg was placed on the tower in 1926.
Nearby you can see the Temple of Minerva, with an elegant facade of six antique columns, the most impressive structure that has survived in the city since Roman times. Inside today is the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.
It is also worth paying attention to the fountain, built in 1762 by Giovanni Martinucci, and the Palazzo dei Priori, which was built over a long time and as a result mixed features of different architectural styles. The oldest part of the palace was built in the 13th century and restored in 1926. The central part also dates back to the 13th century, while the upper floor was built in the 15th century. Today it houses the City Hall, some public institutions and the Pinacoteca Comunale art gallery.
