The Town Hall, also known as Palazzo Albornoz, overlooks Piazza del Popolo. Its origins date back to 1359, when Cardinal Albornoz, after conquering Cesena and expelling the Ordelaffi family, wanted to build a palace-fortress, a fitting seat for the representatives of the Papal State. The current Palace is the result of numerous transformations that led to the unification of two pre-existing buildings: the palatium vetus, a public palace from the communal age (12th-13th century), and the palatium novum or Governor’s Palace.
Little remains of the original ancient building: the Palace underwent expansions and embellishments from the 15th to the 17th century; the beautiful current loggia on Piazza del Popolo dates back to the 18th-century renovations. In this loggia, covered by ribbed vaults, commemorative plaques with bas-relief portraits of illustrious Cesena figures are set into the walls, works by sculptors Tullio Golfarelli and Paolo Grilli.
The reception hall on the first floor, accessed by an imposing double staircase, still retains its magnificence, with walls marked by painted Ionic columns. The so-called “Hall of Mirrors,” thanks to its original Louis XVI-style furnishings, mirror-lined walls, tapestry, and splendid Murano glass chandelier, still fully reflects its ancient splendor. The Council Hall and other adjacent rooms house valuable artworks.
Information about the Town Hall
Piazza del Popolo, 11
Cesena (Forlì-Cesena)
0547 356235
https://serviziweb.comune.cesena.fc.it/palazzo%20comunale/INDEXF.HTM
Source: MIBACT
