Located on Piazza della Libertà 28 in Alessandria, the Palatium Vetus is one of the oldest buildings in the city, dating back to the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Originally named 'broletto', it played a central role in the political, administrative, and judicial life of the medieval commune.
Over the centuries, the building underwent various additions and modifications to suit its changing purposes.
Notable events include the Alessandria commune ceding the building to the state in 1856. From 1995 to 2012, it served as the Presidio and the Military District. Since September 1, 2012, it is the seat of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Alessandria.
Recent renovations have revealed numerous medieval architectural elements, such as the typical Lombard architecture of the broletto, remnants of which are now clearly visible after the 19th-century plaster was removed. One of the two courtyards is now partially surrounded by a portico with arches sporting a pointed arch.
Inside the broletto’s first-floor room, numerous tripartite windows and large fragments of frescoes dating from the 13th to the 17th century were found, including one that is the first representation of Alessandria’s coat of arms.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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