Piazza della Repubblica

Piazza della Repubblica is Cortona’s central civic square, where the town hall and Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo face one another. It occupies the site of the Roman forum, at the intersection of the ancient city’s main streets.

Why it matters

The square has served as a centre of civic life from Roman Cortona through the medieval commune. The town hall was built above the remains of the forum, joining the city’s ancient and medieval histories in the same place.

What to notice

The town hall’s staircase is part of its original Romanesque design. Sixteenth-century changes added a wing, an arch over the street, a bell tower and a column bearing the Marzocco, the Florentine lion. The council hall contains a sixteenth-century stone fireplace attributed to Cristofanello. Opposite stands Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, also known as Palazzo Passerini.

Context and history

In the communal period, Cortona’s government established its palace over the earlier Roman forum. The town hall was altered in the sixteenth century and restored in the late nineteenth century by Castellucci. Together with adjoining Piazza Signorelli, the square remains the civic heart of Cortona.