Sala della Colonna

The Sala della Colonna in Brindisi preserves the original capital and other surviving upper elements of one of the city's Roman harbour columns. The carved marble is displayed in a former courtroom within the Palazzo Granafei-Nervegna complex.

Why it matters

The room brings the original sculpture of the fallen column into view at close range. The capital, pulvino and final drum of the shaft are kept here, while a replica capital crowns the restored column on the waterfront. The hall was formerly an audience room of the Palazzo Granafei-Nervegna complex and later served as a provincial tribunal courtroom.

What to notice

The cipollino-marble capital is attributed to the Severan period, between the late second and third centuries CE. Its twelve figures include four projecting half-busts interpreted as marine deities—Neptune, Amphitrite, Oceanus and Tethys—and pairs of tritons at the corners. Acanthus leaves frame the figures. The pulvino and upper shaft drum are displayed with the capital, preserving several parts of the monument together.

Context and history

The column fell in the earthquake of 20 November 1528. Part of its shaft was later taken to Lecce and reused by Giuseppe Zimbalo for the column of Sant'Oronzo; the carved upper elements remained in Brindisi. During restoration of the surviving column between 1996 and 2002, a copy of the capital was placed on the waterfront monument and the original was installed in the Sala della Colonna. The room served as the provincial tribunal courtroom from the 1930s until 1976.