Il Palazzo Comunale, also known as Palazzo Albornoz, overlooks Piazza del Popolo. Its origins date back to 1359, when Cardinal Albornoz, after conquering Cesena and driving out the Ordelaffi, wanted to erect a palace-fortress, worthy residence of the representatives of the Papal State. The current Palazzo is the result of numerous transformations that led to the unification of two pre-existing buildings: the palatium vetus, the public palace from the communal age (12th-13th centuries) and the palatium novum or Governor’s palace.
Little remains of the original ancient building: the Palazzo underwent expansions and embellishments from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century; the beautiful current loggia on Piazza del Popolo dates back to the eighteenth-century renovations. In this loggia, covered by ribbed vaults, commemorative plaques with bas-relief portraits of illustrious Cesena personalities are embedded, works of sculptors Tullio Golfarelli and Paolo Grilli.
The reception hall on the first floor, accessible via an imposing double-flight staircase, still preserves its magnificence, with walls articulated by painted Ionic columns. The so-called “Hall of Mirrors,” thanks to its original Louis XVI style furnishings, walls adorned with mirrors, upholstery, and splendid Murano glass chandelier, still fully restores the ancient splendor. In the Council Chamber and in other adjacent rooms there are valuable works of art.
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
