Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo Re Enzo

To your right stands the Palazzo del Podestà and the Palazzo Re Enzo. The Palazzo del Podestà was built in the early 1200s as the first seat of the city’s magistrates, before they moved to Palazzo d’Accursio in the 14th century. It’s the oldest civic building in Bologna. Back then, it housed a chamber known as the Sala del Podestà, where justice was served. It was even used as a public theatre between 1581 and 1767. Behind it stands the Palazzo Re Enzo, built in 1246 as an extension of the city’s municipal buildings. Initially called the “New Palace,” it soon took the name of King Enzo of Sardinia, who was imprisoned here for the last 23 years of his life. The tower rising above the palace was built in 1259, a few years after the main buildings were completed. Standing 47 metres tall, it once held a bell used to alert the townspeople in case of emergencies. Today, these two palaces are joined as one impressive complex. Together, they’re a powerful reminder of medieval Bologna and its long civic history. It’s now one of the most visited landmarks in the city, and one of the most striking features of Piazza Maggiore.