Palazzo del Popolo

Orvieto's Palazzo del Popolo is a medieval civic palace built in the local volcanic stone. Its broad exterior and large assembly rooms express the role of communal government in the city.

Why it matters

The palace was associated with the Captain of the People and representatives of the medieval commune. It preserves an architectural setting for the city's political institutions, distinct from its cathedral and religious houses.

What to notice

The exterior combines substantial masonry with rows of arches and windows. Inside, the Sala dei Quattrocento has a wooden ceiling and painted decoration. Archaeological remains beneath the complex include masonry associated with an Etruscan temple, adding an ancient layer to the medieval site.

Context and history

Construction began in the late thirteenth century, with subsequent changes adapting the palace to different civic functions. Its history reflects the changing institutions of Orvieto rather than a single unaltered phase. Restoration and conversion into a conference centre in 1991 introduced a further use for its historic assembly spaces.