Palazzo Pretorio or dei Commissari Granducali overlooks Terra del Sole's marvellous Piazza d'Armi and is a classic example of Renaissance architecture, whose functions were to be the residence of the Grand Ducal Commissioner and the seat of the civil and criminal courts.
Inside the Palazzo Pretorio is a beautiful double-helix spiral staircase, developed on a single central pivot. This architectural element is very striking, especially from a distributive point of view for the function it plays in the context of the secret paths inside the building. Moreover, the structure seems to find a precise match in a sketch made by Leonardo da Vinci a century before the city was built.
Today it houses the Museum of Man and the Environment of Terra del Sole, which has recently been renovated and enlarged, and is divided into 25 rooms according to two visitor routes.
The first is exquisitely historical-architectural in character, while the second is aimed at an in-depth study of ethno-anthropological and territorial aspects.
OPENING HOURS
Friday and Saturday: 15:00 - 19:00
Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 - 13:00 / 15:00 - 19:00
The ticket office closes one hour before the indicated opening time.
Buy a single ticket to visit the area's monuments for only € 10!