PALACE OF THE REASON IN PADUA

Palace of the Reason in Padua

The Palace of Reason, commonly called the "Sa/one" has been the centre of the citys civil life since the earliest times and it seems to rise from Padua's ancient Roman forum.

Built in 1218 and enlarged between 1306 and 1309 by Brother Giovanni degli Eremitani, it was then roof ed by a large structure made in wood and lead, an engineering and artistic marvel, and not only for that epoch. Tradition claims that the astrological cycle frescoed inside with the signs of the zodiac, the planets and their influence were painted by Giotto, based on the treatise by the Paduan doctor and astrologist Pietro d'Abano: destroyed by fire, they were repainted by Nicolò Miretto and a Ferrarese painter in 1420. In the interior there is also a gigantic wooden horse, used by the Capodilista family in 1466 for jousting.

Once the seat for the courts, its ground floor is still today, as in the XIII Century, the site for the city market.