Trade and trade law under the same roof.
Upon entering Via Santo Stefano, the monumental Palazzo della Mercanzia, that has housed the Chamber of Commerce since 1797, holds sway over the little square bearing its name i.e.Piazza della Mercanzia.
Even before that date, the Palazzo della Mercanzia had hosted the Merchant Forum where the Mercantile Court sat in session.
Disputes of economic nature were settled within these rooms and sentences were publically announced from the little roofed white marble balcony on the facade.
According to tradition, fraudulent businessmen were tied to the central pillar of the portico and exposed to public shame
The palace was built in 1382.
The project was given to the architects Lorenzo da Bagnomarino and Antonio di Vincenzo. The latter being already famous for having drew the original plans of San Petronio.
The City Customs was located here. A portico was built in 1382 to connect 3 separate houses, owned at the time by the Town Hall, and these went to form the core of the new building. The portico was also useful for loading and unloading of merchandise .
A number of restorations and renovations took place over the centuries, as can be expected for buildings as old as this.
The latest in 1949 when the palace was restored and partly rebuilt due to massive damages caused during WW2
ADDRESS: Piazza della Mercanzia 4, Bologna
PHONE: 051 239660
Individual visits permitted
Group visits must be pre-booked
Access is limited upon entering
Visits last about one hour and a half
Map from Park View B&B to Palazzo della Mercanzia
