San Gimignano Walking Tour - Part III: Museo Civico

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Slideshow | Lightbox (152) Tags: history italy san-gimignano scenic-place tourist-attraction tuscany Posted: Dec. 5, 2010 by Serge

Madonna col bambino e due angeli (Madonna with child and two angels) by Cenno di Francesco di Ser Cenni (fresco, 1413 circa, Museo Civico, San Gimignano)

The third part of our tour is dedicated entirely to Palazzo Comunale (Municipal Palace or, simply, Town Hall). It does not involve a lot of walking, but I would allocate a couple of hours to this place. Its main attraction is the Museo Civico and Torre Grossa (Civic Museum and Big Tower).

Palazzo Comunale o Palazzo Nuovo del Podestà (Town Hall) is the most interesting place to visit in San Gimignano, Italy. It is located on Piazza del Duomo. The palace was constructed in 1288 and expanded in 1323 to house the new office of Podestà (Chief Magistrate of a city state). The old palace of Podestà is still standing on Piazza Duomo not far from Palazzo Comunale. The old palace was built in 1239 but not used for government offices since the completion of construction of the new palace. The old palace was transformed into a theater in 1537 (and still in use today as Teatro dei Leggieri).

You enter Palazzo Comunale either directly from Piazza Duomo or from its inner courtyard. By the way, the latter is also very interesting with its charming architecture and frescoes on walls. There is also an old well built in 1361. The courtyard is at the ground floor level; some of the structures around it are still used today to house civic offices of the town council. To enter Palazzo Comunale premises open to public you should pay an admission fee of €5.

Inside Torre Grossa (Big Tower, San Gimignano) - looking down.

Palazzo Comunale tour starts on the ground floor with "Sala di Dante" (also known as "Sala del Consiglio" - large hall that was used as the council chamber). The room is decorated with magnificent frescos with the Maestà by Lippo Memmi at its central spot.

The art gallery of the museum is located on upper floors. There are several rooms full of paintings, frescos, various artistic and other artifacts. The artistic collection gives an opportunity to follow most important moments in artistic developments in the San Gimignano area. They include the Florence influence (Coppo di Marcovaldo, Azzo di Masetto) as well Siena one (Rinaldo) during the second half of 13th century. Next comes the succession of Florentine and Sienese schools between 13th and 14th centuries (Taddeo di Bartolo, Lorenzo di Niccolò) with the final prevalence of Florence styles (Filippino Lippi, Benozzo Bozzoli, Sebastiano Mainardi) which contributed to the Renaissance renewal of San Gimignano. Among significant works of this period is Madonna in gloria tra i santi Gregorio Magno e Benedetto (Madonna with Saints Gregory and Benedict) by Pinturicchio, 1510-1512 circa, oil on wood.

From Palazzo Comunale you can access Torre Grossa (Big Tower), the tallest tower in San Gimignano (177ft or 54m). Its construction began in 1300 and finished in 1311. From the top of the tower visitors can enjoy wonderful views of the Tuscan countryside. In good weather. you can see as far as the hill of Pistoia and Apuan Alps. Going to the top of the tower requires walking many stairs; good news is that the staircases inside the tower are completely restored. The Torre Grossa itself is like a shell and not claustrophobic like of other medieval towers.

From the steps in front of Palazzo Comunale - the arch you see leads to the court with entrances to Collegiata and Museo D'Arte Sacra (Museum of Religious Art).	Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), inner court (San Gimignano, Italy). Enjoy frescos on its walls. Entrances to Collegiata and Museo D'Arte Sacra (Museum of Religious Art) are located here.	Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), inner court (San Gimignano, Italy) - view on Museo d'Arte Sacra (Sacred Art Museum)	A restored fresco on a wall in the inner court of Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), San Gimignano, Italy.
This museum sign belonging to Museo D'Arte Sacra (Museum of Religious Art, San Gimignano, Italy) looks like an authentic thing.	A restored fresco on a wall in the inner court of Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), San Gimignano, Italy.	A restored fresco on a wall in the inner court of Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), San Gimignano, Italy.	Sala di Dante (Dante Hall) of Museo Civico. The hall is decorated by Lippo Memmi (an Italian artist lived in 14 century) including its famous Maestà (see the fragment of it on the right side of the photo).
'I dolenti e il Crocifisso' (The Mourners and the Crucifix), oil on wood, about 1520 in Museo Civico, San Gimignano.	In one of the halls of Museo Civico (San Gimignano, Italy)	Room of Secret Assemblies (Museo Civico, San Gimignano, Italy). This room was room was used by the city government.	View on the inner court of Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall) in San Gimignano, Italy.
The wall in Museo Civico (Palazzo Comunale, San Gimignano, Italy) with some artifacts from 13th - 16th centuries.	The actual art gallery is on the second floor of Museum Civico (Palazzo Comunale, San Gimignano, Italy). Photo shows one of its halls.	Madonna Assunta con i santi Gregorio e Benedetto, Pinturicchio (1511), great shovel of altar, Museo Civico, San Gimignano, Italy.	Madonna con Bambino con angeli e santi, Benozzo Gozzoli (1466), Museo Civico, San Gimignano, Italy
Entrance to Torre Grossa (Big Tower) is through the premises of Museo Civico (San Gimignano, Italy)	Construction details of the lower part of Torre Grossa (Big Tower), San Gimignano, Italy.	This wooden beam inside Torre Grossa (San Gimignano, Italy) looks very old. I am wondering if indeed it is authentic from 14th century.	Inside Torre Grossa or Big Tower in San Gimignano, Italy. All staircases are made of steel and installed recently. It also seems they are designed to reinforce the tower structure.
Another view on the guts of Torre Grossa (Big Tower) in San Gimignano, Italy	Exit to the tower's roof (Torre Grossa or Big Tower in San Gimignano, Italy)	Another view on exit to the Torre Grossa (Big Tower) roof (San Gimignano, Italy)	Tower's roof and observation platform (Torre Grossa or Big Tower in San Gimignano, Italy). The bell is on the right.
Superb views open up from the Torre Grossa (Big Tower, San Gimignano, Italy). This one is on via San Matteo - the street we used to come to piazza Duomo	Piazza della Cisterna from the top of Torre Grossa (Big Tower, San Gimignano, Italy)	La Torre Rognosa, also known as Torre dell'Orologio or Torre del Podestà (the tower is located on piazza Duomo (San Gimignano, Italy). The tower is a part of Palazzo Vecchio del Podestà (Old Podesta's Palace).	The top of La Torre Rognosa (Torre dell'Orologio or also Torre del Podestà) as viewed from Torre Grossa.
Fresco in black and white 'Giustizia che calpesta la menzogna' (Justice that treads on the lie) by Vincenzo Tamagni, in Palazzo Comunale (San Gimignano, Italy).	Piazza della Cisterna - the second square in the historic center of San Gimignano.