Acetaia Comunale

The Palazzo Comunale in the heart of Modena is not a single building but a Baroque combination of several structures that have served as the seat of city government since the 11th century. The complex on Piazza Grande shapes the historic center of Emilia-Romagna and still houses the municipal administration today. One striking relic of the past is the so-called Truncated Tower, whose upper sections collapsed in an earthquake in 1671. In the north wing, the Double-Window Hall also reveals remains of a medieval facade that extended deeper into the building than the present exterior wall.

Inside, you can visit the Fire Hall, whose frieze by Nicolò dell'Abbate dates from 1546. The paintings illustrate the siege of Modena in 44 B.C. and show Roman figures such as Mark Antony and Augustus against a typically Emilian backdrop. Historically, this room also served a public function, as citizens came here to take embers for their own fires. The Camerino dei Confirmati houses the Secchia rapita, a wooden bucket regarded as a trophy of the victory over Bologna in 1325 and later the subject of a famous mock-heroic poem.

Outside, you'll find further witnesses to the city's history. The Preda Ringadora, a large block of marble, served in the Middle Ages as a speaker's platform and as a place where punishments were carried out. A medieval statue, the Bonissima, stands at the corner of Via Castellaro. While legend tells of a generous noblewoman, the figure most likely symbolizes accurate measurement in trade, since the local standard units of measure were once engraved at her feet.