Casa Panigarola
Encyclopedia
Casa Panigarola also known as Palazzo dei Notai ("Palace of the Notaries"), is a historic building of Milan
, Italy
, located in Piazza Mercanti
, former city centre in the Middle Ages
. It is named after the House of Panigarola, a family of notaries from Gallarate
, that owned the building until 1741. The building thus served as a notary seat, and the activities therein were strictly related to those that occurred in the adjacent Palazzo della Ragione
, where trials were held.
The palace occupies the west side of the rectangular Piazza Mercanti city square. While its original structure dates back to the age of medieval commune
s, it was largely rebuilt in the 15th century in Gothic
style. The facade was designed by Giovanni Solari
in 1466 and largely restored in 1899 by Luca Beltrami
. A minor restoration occurred in 1967, under the supervision of Antonio Cassi Ramelli.
In the floor of the portico
, there is a notable relief with the biscione
, Milan's emblem under the House of Sforza
. Another notable decoration of the palace is a ceramic
plaque dating back to 1448, signed by Tommaso da Caponago (a 15th century lawyer), that warns against the perils of recurring to the law to solve conflicts.
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, located in Piazza Mercanti
Piazza Mercanti
Piazza Mercanti is a central city square of Milan, Italy. It is located between Piazza del Duomo, which marks the centre of the modern city of Milan, and Piazza Cordusio, and it used to be the heart of the city in the Middle Ages...
, former city centre in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. It is named after the House of Panigarola, a family of notaries from Gallarate
Gallarate
Gallarate is a city and comune of Lombardy, northern Italy, in the Province of Varese. It has a population of some 51,700....
, that owned the building until 1741. The building thus served as a notary seat, and the activities therein were strictly related to those that occurred in the adjacent Palazzo della Ragione
Palazzo della Ragione (Milan)
The Palazzo della Ragione is a historic building of Milan, Italy, located in Piazza Mercanti, facing the Loggia degli Osii. It was built in 13th century and originally served as a broletto as well as a judicial seat...
, where trials were held.
The palace occupies the west side of the rectangular Piazza Mercanti city square. While its original structure dates back to the age of medieval commune
Medieval commune
Medieval communes in the European Middle Ages had sworn allegiances of mutual defense among the citizens of a town or city. They took many forms, and varied widely in organization and makeup. Communes are first recorded in the late 11th and early 12th centuries, thereafter becoming a widespread...
s, it was largely rebuilt in the 15th century in Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style. The facade was designed by Giovanni Solari
Giovanni Solari
Giovanni Solari was an Italian architect and engineer.He was born in Milan, the son of the architect Marco Solari, who was chief of the works of the Duomo of Milan. Giovanni Solari directed the construction of the Certosa di Pavia from 1428 to 1462 and that of the Duomo from 1452 to 1469. He was...
in 1466 and largely restored in 1899 by Luca Beltrami
Luca Beltrami
Luca Beltrami was an Italian architect and architectural historian, known particularly for restoration projects. He was a student of Camillo Boito at the Brera Academy...
. A minor restoration occurred in 1967, under the supervision of Antonio Cassi Ramelli.
In the floor of the portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
, there is a notable relief with the biscione
Biscione
The Biscione , also known as the Vipera , is a heraldic charge showing in Argent an Azure serpent in the act of consuming a human; usually a child and sometimes described as a Moor. It has been the emblem of the Italian Visconti family for around a thousand years...
, Milan's emblem under the House of Sforza
House of Sforza
Sforza was a ruling family of Renaissance Italy, based in Milan.-History:The dynasty was founded by Muzio Attendolo , called Sforza , a condottiero from Romagna serving the Angevin kings of Naples...
. Another notable decoration of the palace is a ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
plaque dating back to 1448, signed by Tommaso da Caponago (a 15th century lawyer), that warns against the perils of recurring to the law to solve conflicts.