Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo

The Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo stands on the north side of Piazza del Comune in Assisi, beside the Torre del Popolo. Completed in 1282, it preserves the seat of the medieval magistracy that represented the city's people.

Why it matters

The palace and adjacent tower were built as a civic ensemble for the Capitano del Popolo. Their position opposite other municipal buildings on the square reflects the political organisation of thirteenth-century Assisi.

What to notice

The three round arches at ground level open onto spaces that have long been used for shops. The façade is built from white limestone of Monte Subasio, and an inscription commemorates the palace's completion under Guidone de' Rossi in 1282. Guelph battlements were added during a restoration in the 1920s.

Context and history

Construction began in the mid-thirteenth century, alongside the Torre del Popolo, which dates from 1275 to 1305. The building was damaged during the sack of Assisi in 1442 and later used for public schools. A restoration in 1926–27 restored a medieval profile. The palace contains wall paintings by Adalberto Migliorati.