Palazzo Comunale, San Gimignano

The Palazzo Comunale (“Municipal Palace”) is the town hall of San Gimignano and has been so since 1300. Photography is not permitted, so these photos were taken very quickly.

The photo above, in the “Dante Room” (Dante visited San Gimignano in 1300 as ambassador from the republic of Florence) is decorated with a painting by Lippo Memmi, the “Maesta” (“majesty,” a depiction of the Mary and Jesus enthroned, surrounded by the heavenly court and angels).

The Podestà apartments (Camera del Podestà) are decorated with frescoes by Memmo di Filippuccio, depicting married life.

I photographed the masonry under the stairs leading up to the Torre Grossa.

The entrance of the palazzo:

Looking down into the courtyard.

The courtyard frescoes depict the coats of arms of families who have held public office. The Palazzo is still a seat of government, but the current offices are on the same level as this courtyard. I wish I could have spent more time photographing this beautiful courtyard but we were in a rush.