.San Gimignano - Palace of the Podestà

Going back to the Cathedral Square, at its side we see the Town Hall whose construction commenced in the second half of the 13th century, was finished on the 23 of December 1288. That same day the Town Council gathered for the first time. It is the only authentic Palace of the Podesta. The other, known as «ancient» did not serve for the Council meetings, but it was the Podesta's residence and the jail. Ten years later, in 1311, the Town Hall was flanked by the Big Tower. Originally the palace was smaller, but in 1323 the original plan ascribed to the famous architect Arnolfo di Cambio from Colle Val d'Elsa, was enlarged. On the right side we see the Loggia or Tribune from where the Podesta delivered the oath of fidelity to the town. At the foot of its stairs in 1352 Primerano and Rossellino of the Ardinghelli family were beheaded. The heavy battlement was added in 1811.
Going beyond the door reading «Museo Civico» (Town Museum) we come to a courtyard built in 1323 when the palace was enlarged.
The interior walls bears the coats-of-arms of some Podestas. They render living these citizens dead long ago. The cistern was sunk in 1360 when Jacopo di Carroccio Alberti was Podesta. Here and there some Etruscan cinerary urns. On the right there is the Loggia of the Judge. The three wall frescoes are related to the justice that was administred here. The upper fresco represents Our Lady with the Child who bears a scroll reading: «Diligite iustitiam qui iudicatis terram» (Love the justice you who judge on the earth).
The Madonna has at her sides St. Gregory and St. Gimignano. On the right a large fresco by Sodoma (1507) represents St. Yves (the French canonist, patron saint of lawyers and a lawyer himself). A number of citizens throng around his bench. The Saint renders justice to a child while out of his office a group of other citizens who carry presents, are waiting for justice. An unknown character looks after that nobody try to corrupt the judge.
Of the incorruptibility of the justice an unknown citizen of the 16th century was not much convinced if he wrote on the chair: «l promise you win the suit, if you are prompt with the (pouch)».
The third painting is an allegory probably by the same Sodoma (1513). From his chair the judge drives out Lie dragging at his feet; at his right a snake symbolizes Prudence and a naked woman (left) Truth. Above is an inscription:

"Man suffers for his sins:
draw the truth out of lie,
false tongue does always falsify".

Above the exit of the corridor through which we entered, there is a fresco by Cesare Vagarini (a Sangimignanese painter) representing Prudence, Justice and Fortitude.