Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Palazzo della Ragione

Bergamo was the settlement of a Celtic tribe but got conquered by the Romans in 196 BC. Looted by Attila´s troops in the 5th century, it became the capital of a Lombardian duchy a century later. After the conquest of the Lombard Kingdom by Charlemagne, the Franks ruled here. End of the 11th century Bergamo had become an independent commune, with a lot of feuding between the local the Guelph and Ghibelline factions. In 1428 Bergamo was ceded in 1428 by the Duchy of Milan to the Republic of Venice and was transformed into a fortified city, protecting the trade routes leading into the Rhine Valley. The French Revolutionary Army ended more than three centuries of Venetian rule in 1797. Bergamo was part of the "Cisalpine Republic". At Congress of Vienna, Bergamo was assigned to the (Austrian) Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Giuseppe Garibaldi conquered Bergamo in 1859. The city was incorporated into the newly founded Kingdom of Italy. Bergamo has two centres: Città alta ("upper city"), a hilltop medieval town, and the Città bassa ("lower city"). Next to the old town hall "Palazzo della Ragione", where the Duomo di Bergamo (aka "Cattedrale di Sant' Alessandro") is now, stood the Cathedral of St. Vincenzo already in the 5th century. After rebuilding the church in the Romanesque area, a new cathedral was erected by Filarete ("Antonio di Pietro Averlino") in 1459. The building of today was built on plans by Carlo Fontana, dating from 1688. The dome was completed in 1883, the neo classical facade in 1889.

Bergamo was the settlement of a Celtic tribe but got conquered by the Romans in 196 BC. Looted by Attila´s troops in the 5th century, it became the capital of a Lombardian duchy a century later. After the conquest of the Lombard Kingdom by Charlemagne, the Franks ruled here. End of the 11th century Bergamo had become an independent commune, with a lot of feuding between the local the Guelph and Ghibelline factions. In 1428 Bergamo was ceded in 1428 by the Duchy of Milan to the Republic of Venice and was transformed into a fortified city, protecting the trade routes leading into the Rhine Valley. The French Revolutionary Army ended more than three centuries of Venetian rule in 1797. Bergamo was part of the "Cisalpine Republic". At Congress of Vienna, Bergamo was assigned to the (Austrian) Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Giuseppe Garibaldi conquered Bergamo in 1859. The city was incorporated into the newly founded Kingdom of Italy. Bergamo has two centres: Città alta ("upper city"), a hilltop medieval town, and the Città bassa ("lower city"). In the center of the Città alta is the old town hall "Palazzo della Ragione" (aka "Palazzo Vecchio"), erected 1183 - 1198. It burnt down and got rebuilt at least twice over the centuries. The open ground floor served as a market hall, but it was as well as the place for public trials. There are some very interesting capitals here. This one is near the adjoining Duomo.

Bergamo was the settlement of a Celtic tribe but got conquered by the Romans in 196 BC. Looted by Attila´s troops in the 5th century, it became the capital of a Lombardian duchy a century later. After the conquest of the Lombard Kingdom by Charlemagne, the Franks ruled here. End of the 11th century Bergamo had become an independent commune, with a lot of feuding between the local the Guelph and Ghibelline factions. In 1428 Bergamo was ceded in 1428 by the Duchy of Milan to the Republic of Venice and was transformed into a fortified city, protecting the trade routes leading into the Rhine Valley. The French Revolutionary Army ended more than three centuries of Venetian rule in 1797. Bergamo was part of the "Cisalpine Republic". At Congress of Vienna, Bergamo was assigned to the (Austrian) Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Giuseppe Garibaldi conquered Bergamo in 1859. The city was incorporated into the newly founded Kingdom of Italy. Bergamo has two centres: Città alta ("upper city"), a hilltop medieval town, and the Città bassa ("lower city"). In the center of the Città alta is the old town hall "Palazzo della Ragione" (aka "Palazzo Vecchio"), erected 1183 - 1198. It burnt down and got rebuilt at least twice over the centuries. The open ground floor served as a market hall, but it was as well as the place for public trials. There are some very interesting capitals here. This one is near the adjoining Duomo.

Bergamo was the settlement of a Celtic tribe but got conquered by the Romans in 196 BC. Looted by Attila´s troops in the 5th century, it became the capital of a Lombardian duchy a century later. After the conquest of the Lombard Kingdom by Charlemagne, the Franks ruled here. End of the 11th century Bergamo had become an independent commune, with a lot of feuding between the local the Guelph and Ghibelline factions. In 1428 Bergamo was ceded in 1428 by the Duchy of Milan to the Republic of Venice and was transformed into a fortified city, protecting the trade routes leading into the Rhine Valley. The French Revolutionary Army ended more than three centuries of Venetian rule in 1797. Bergamo was part of the "Cisalpine Republic". At Congress of Vienna, Bergamo was assigned to the (Austrian) Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Giuseppe Garibaldi conquered Bergamo in 1859. The city was incorporated into the newly founded Kingdom of Italy. Bergamo has two centres: Città alta ("upper city"), a hilltop medieval town, and the Città bassa ("lower city"). In the center of the Città alta is the Piazza Vecchia and the old town hall "Palazzo della Ragione" (aka "Palazzo Vecchio"), erected 1183 - 1198. It burnt down and got rebuilt at least twice over the centuries. Over the balcony is the "Lion of Saint Mark", as Bergamo was part of the Republic of Venice upto 1797. The Torre Civica was the tower house of the (Ghibelline) Suardi family in the 12th century. Most of the previous uplaoded photos were taken from top of the tower.

Bergamo was the settlement of a Celtic tribe but got conquered by the Romans in 196 BC. Looted by Attila´s troops in the 5th century, it became the capital of a Lombardian duchy a century later. After the conquest of the Lombard Kingdom by Charlemagne, the Franks ruled here. End of the 11th century Bergamo had become an independent commune, with a lot of feuding between the local the Guelph and Ghibelline factions. In 1428 Bergamo was ceded in 1428 by the Duchy of Milan to the Republic of Venice and was transformed into a fortified city, protecting the trade routes leading into the Rhine Valley. The French Revolutionary Army ended more than three centuries of Venetian rule in 1797. Bergamo was part of the "Cisalpine Republic". At Congress of Vienna, Bergamo was assigned to the (Austrian) Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Giuseppe Garibaldi conquered Bergamo in 1859. The city was incorporated into the newly founded Kingdom of Italy. Bergamo has two centres: Città alta ("upper city"), a hilltop medieval town, and the Città bassa ("lower city"). Standig on top of the Torre Civica in the Città alta. The tower was erected in the 11th/12th century as a tower house for the (Ghibelline) Suardi family. The facade of the Romanesque basilica Santa Maria Maggiore and the Cappella Colleoni, erected between 1472 and 1476 as a mausoleum for Bartolomeo Colleoni and his daughter Medea. On the right is the roof of the octagonal baptistery, built in 1340. In 1650 the baptistery was dismantled, but was saved, and in 1856 reassembled. It was moved to its present site in 1889.

Bergamo was the settlement of a Celtic tribe but got conquered by the Romans in 196 BC. Looted by Attila´s troops in the 5th century, it became the capital of a Lombardian duchy a century later. After the conquest of the Lombard Kingdom by Charlemagne, the Franks ruled here. End of the 11th century Bergamo had become an independent commune, with a lot of feuding between the local the Guelph and Ghibelline factions. In 1428 Bergamo was ceded in 1428 by the Duchy of Milan to the Republic of Venice and was transformed into a fortified city, protecting the trade routes leading into the Rhine Valley. The French Revolutionary Army ended more than three centuries of Venetian rule in 1797. Bergamo was part of the "Cisalpine Republic". At Congress of Vienna, Bergamo was assigned to the (Austrian) Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Giuseppe Garibaldi conquered Bergamo in 1859. The city was incorporated into the newly founded Kingdom of Italy. Bergamo has two centres: Città alta ("upper city"), a hilltop medieval town, and the Città bassa ("lower city"). Standig on top of the Torre Civica in the Città alta. The tower was erected in the 11th/12th century as a tower house for the (Ghibelline) Suardi family. Seen to the left is a part of the Palazzo della Ragione´s stepped gable and a part of the Duomo´s facade. Further right is the Romanesque basilica Santa Maria Maggiore and the Cappella Colleoni, erected between 1472 and 1476 as a mausoleum for Bartolomeo Colleoni and his daughter Medea. Only partly seen is the roof of the small, octagonal baptistery.

Bergamo was the settlement of a Celtic tribe but got conquered by the Romans in 196 BC. Looted by Attila´s troops in the 5th century, it became the capital of a Lombardian duchy a century later. After the conquest of the Lombard Kingdom by Charlemagne, the Franks ruled here. End of the 11th century Bergamo had become an independent commune, with a lot of feuding between the local the Guelph and Ghibelline factions. In 1428 Bergamo was ceded in 1428 by the Duchy of Milan to the Republic of Venice and was transformed into a fortified city, protecting the trade routes leading into the Rhine Valley. The French Revolutionary Army ended more than three centuries of Venetian rule in 1797. Bergamo was part of the "Cisalpine Republic". At Congress of Vienna, Bergamo was assigned to the (Austrian) Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Giuseppe Garibaldi conquered Bergamo in 1859. The city was incorporated into the newly founded Kingdom of Italy. Bergamo has two centres: Città alta ("upper city"), a hilltop medieval town, and the Città bassa ("lower city"). Standig on top of the Torre Civica in the Città alta. The tower was erected in the 11th/12th century as a tower house for the (Ghibelline) Suardi family. Just in front is Palazzo della Ragione´s stepped gable, behind the Palazzo is the Duomo di Bergamo. Further to the right are Santa Maria Maggiore and the Cappella Colleoni.

The Palazzo della Ragione, the medieval town hall of Padua, was erected 1172 - 1218. The top level was added 1306-1309. Since a renovation after a fire in 1420 this level only consists out of one large rectangular hall, named "salone", its length 81.5m, its breadth 27m, and its height 24m. The Palazzo della Ragione is is reputed to have the largest roof unsupported by columns in Europe. The wooden vaulting is similar to that of the Hôtel-Dieu in Tonnerre (Burgundy). The gound level hosts since the early times the covered market of Padua.

The Palazzo della Ragione, the medieval town hall of Padua, was erected 1172 - 1218. The top level was added 1306-1309. Since a renovation after a fire in 1420 this level only consists out of one large rectangular hall, named "salone", its length 81.5m, its breadth 27m, and its height 24m. The Palazzo della Ragione is is reputed to have the largest roof unsupported by columns in Europe. The wooden vaulting is similar to that of the Hôtel-Dieu in Tonnerre (Burgundy). The gound level hosts since the early times the covered market of Padua.

Mantua (ital. Mantova) was a settlemt on the banks of River Mincio in Etruscan times. In Roman times veteran soldiers were placed here. About 70 BC the Roman poet Virgil was born nearby. After the end of the Roman Empire Mantua was invaded in turn by Goths, Byzantines, Longobards, and Franks. In the 11th century, Mantua became a possession of Boniface of Canossa, marquis of Tuscany. During the 12th century the course of the River Mincio was altered, creating lakes, to reinforce the city's natural protection. Three of these lakes still remains today. Under the House of Gonzaga, that ruled Mantua for more than three centuries (sometimes in a very despotic way), the city developed and became a center of Renaissance art. At the end of the long war of the Mantuan Succession the city was under Austrian rule. Mantua was part of the Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy, the city returned to Austria in 1814. A revolt against the Austrians was suppressed by the Austrian army in 1855. Finally in 1866 Mantua and the Lombardy were incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy. The "Rotonda di San Lorenzo" is the oldest structure in Mantua, going back to the 11th century. This was during the reign of the Canossa family, so the building is often connected to Matilda of Canossa (aka "Matilda of Tuscany"), a powerful supporter of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy. But actually there is no proof. The design is for sure inspired by the Holy Sepulchre church in Jerusalem. The church fell in disrepair and got deconsecrated in 1579. It was used as a storage room, dwellings and shops. About two centuries later, the church was completely forgotten but got rediscovered end of the 19th century. 1909 - 1911 the building got reconstructed. All external additions got removed, so the brickwork, typical for lombardian architecture of the 11th century, van be seen. As the roof was missing, designs from other rotundas in Northern Italy were studied - and so today the church looks perfect. Seen from this pov is, that the rotunda is "sunken" below the street level. A flight of stairs runs down to the entrance. The neighbouring "Palazzo della Ragione", only 2 centuries younger, is on the piazza´s street level. The reason may be, that the church was built on the round foundations of an ancient Roman temple, dedicated to Venus.

Mantua (ital. Mantova) was a settlemt on the banks of River Mincio in Etruscan times. In Roman times veteran soldiers were placed here. About 70 BC the Roman poet Virgil was born nearby. After the end of the Roman Empire Mantua was invaded in turn by Goths, Byzantines, Longobards, and Franks. In the 11th century, Mantua became a possession of Boniface of Canossa, marquis of Tuscany. During the 12th century the course of the River Mincio was altered, creating lakes, to reinforce the city's natural protection. Three of these lakes still remains today. Under the House of Gonzaga, that ruled Mantua for more than three centuries (sometimes in a very despotic way), the city developed and became a center of Renaissance art. At the end of the long war of the Mantuan Succession the city was under Austrian rule. Mantua was part of the Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy, the city returned to Austria in 1814. A revolt against the Austrians was suppressed by the Austrian army in 1855. Finally in 1866 Mantua and the Lombardy were incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy. A year later (see previous upload) all scaffoldings were gone.. The "Rotonda di San Lorenzo" is the oldest structure in Mantua, going back to the 11th century. This was during the reign of the Canossa family, so the building is often connected to Matilda of Canossa (aka "Matilda of Tuscany"), a powerful supporter of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy. But actually there is no proof. The design is for sure inspired by the Holy Sepulchre church in Jerusalem. The church fell in disrepair and got deconsecrated in 1579. The building was used storage room, as well for dwellings and shops. About two centuries later, the church was completely forgotten but it got rediscovered end of the 19th century. 1909 - 1911 the building got reconstructed. All external additions got removed. As the roof was missing, designs from other rotundas in Northern Italy were studied - and so today the church looks perfect.

Mantua (ital. Mantova) was a settlemt on the banks of River Mincio in Etruscan times. In Roman times veteran soldiers were placed here. About 70 BC the Roman poet Virgil (aka "Publius Vergilius Maro") was born nearby. After the end of the Roman Empire Mantua was invaded in turn by Goths, Byzantines, Longobards, and Franks. In the 11th century, Mantua became a possession of Boniface of Canossa, marquis of Tuscany. During the 12th century the course of the River Mincio was altered, creating lakes, to reinforce the city's natural protection. Three of these lakes still remains today. Under the House of Gonzaga, that ruled Mantua for more than three centuries (sometimes in a very despotic way), the city developed and became a center of Renaissance art. At the end of the long war of the Mantuan Succession the city was under Austrian rule. Mantua was part of the Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy, the city returned to Austria in 1814. A revolt against the Austrians was suppressed by the Austrian army in 1855. Finally in 1866 Mantua and the Lombardy were incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy. The "Rotonda di San Lorenzo", here seen from the Piazza della Erbe, is the oldest structure in Mantua, going back to the 11th century. This was the building I was most interested in in Mantua. The rotunda was open for visitors, but, just like the neighbouring "Palazzo della Ragione", the church was hidden under a scaffolding. I learned from a construction worker, that within the next weeks, the renovation of the round church would be completed. So I had to return to Mantua - later again.

Mantua (ital. Mantova) was a settlemt on the banks of River Mincio in Etruscan times. In Roman times veteran soldiers were placed here. About 70 BC the Roman poet Virgil (aka "Publius Vergilius Maro") was born nearby. After the end of the Roman Empire Mantua was invaded in turn by Goths, Byzantines, Longobards, and Franks. In the 11th century, Mantua became a possession of Boniface of Canossa, marquis of Tuscany. During the 12th century the course of the River Mincio was altered, creating lakes, to reinforce the city's natural protection. Three of these lakes still remains today. Under the House of Gonzaga, that ruled Mantua for more than three centuries (sometimes in a very despotic way), the city developed and became a center of Renaissance art. At the end of the long war of the Mantuan Succession the city was under Austrian rule. Mantua was part of the Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy, the city returned to Austria in 1814. A revolt against the Austrians was suppressed by the Austrian army in 1855. Finally in 1866 Mantua and the Lombardy were incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy. The "Rotonda di San Lorenzo" is the oldest structure in Mantua, going back to the 11th century. This was the building I was most interested in in Mantua. The rotunda was open for visitors, but, just like the neighbouring "Palazzo della Ragione", the church was hidden under a scaffolding. I learned from a construction worker, that within the next weeks, the renovation of the round church would be completed. So I had to return to Mantua - later again.