Palatium Vetus

piazza della Libertà, 28 - 1512x Alessandria (AL)
Tel. +39 347 8095172
E-mail: didattica.fondazionecral@gmail.com
https://www.comune.alessandria.it/il-medioevo#medioevo4
https://www.fondazionecralessandria.it/tesori-della-fondazione-pagina/virtual-tour-palatium-vetus/
https://www.palazzodelgovernatoresrl.it/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbIpALe-mNo&t=63s

Palatium Vetus is one of the oldest buildings of Alessandria. It was used as a broletto, in the 13th and 14th centuries, namely the centre of the political, administrative and judicial life of the medieval municipality. The palace was home to the offices of the Podestà (chief magistrate), the Captain of the People, the prisons and the Pretorio (Town hall): this is the place where the key events of the medieval history of Alessandria took place. In the early 19th century, Napoleon completely modified the layout of the piazza and restructured the building. With the restoration and return of the Savoia family the palace became the home of the Military Governor once again until 1856, when the Municipality handed it over to the State. Used for military purposes, in the early 2000s it was sold to private individuals. Despite the continuous modifications, several important traces of its past history remain, recovered with extensive restoration work curated by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Alessandria who purchased it to house their own headquarters. The ancient broletto, of typically Lombard architecture, composed by a portico on the ground floor and by a hall on the first floor, is now perfectly distinguishable. (text from the website of the Municipality of Alessandria).

Palatium Vetus hosts the Works of the Collection of Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Alessandria - with local artists such as Migliara, Volpedo, Morbelli, Carrà, Morando - and permanent exhibitions.

ph. credit Fondazione CRAL