Palazzo dei Priori e della Mercanzia

On Corciano's main street, Palazzo dei Priori e della Mercanzia represents the town's communal and commercial institutions. Its four-arched facade once formed a market portico; three bays were later closed, while the upper level held a great hall for public meetings.

Why it matters

The palace's double name recalls the priors who governed the commune and the mercanzia, the institution through which merchants and craftspeople organised trade. It stands on Corso Rotelli, the civic street of Corciano, among the public buildings that record the town's political and economic life in the Middle Ages.

What to notice

The facade's arcade is its defining feature. Four arches, three later closed, formed the portico where the market was held. The tall upper register marks the great hall used for public meetings. The palace stands near Piazza Coragino and the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, another building in the civic ensemble.

Context and history

Corciano's medieval fortunes were tied to Perugia. The town was sacked in 1364 by the Compagnia Bianca and taken by Braccio Fortebraccio in 1416 after a siege. The Palazzo dei Priori e della Mercanzia housed two distinct authorities, the communal priors and the merchants' institution.