Palazzo del Podestà
Palazzo del Podestà
4
Points of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural BuildingsGovernment Buildings
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Plan your visit
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Santo Stefano
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
1,819 within 5 kms
Attractions
543 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.0
249 reviews
Excellent
91
Very good
130
Average
27
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Flying Dutchman
Somme-Leuze, Belgium935 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
Palazzo del Podesta has one of the most entertaining surprises of Bologna. While you are walking under the arch of the palace, you may see people turned their faces to the pillars of the wall and laughing. This is the place of whispering walls. You and you friend go to the opposite sides of the arches, turn your faces to the pillars and whisper into the wall, and even though it is a crowded area with so much hustle, your friend will hear you clearly. It is said that the place was a confessing point for the lepers. The palace has also a remarkable exterior design....
Written 5 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo_and_Tom
Anna, OH2,044 contributions
Mar 2020
We walked through the Portico of this building. If I remember correctly one of the stores in it is a Gelato place. Per our guide, the machine to produce Gelato was made by the owners of the shop.
Written 29 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,165 contributions
May 2019
This is one of several big, heavy, red brick palazzos surrounding the Piazza Maggiore. It's the oldest one on the piazza (dating from 1200s) and stands directly opposite the Basilica.
The Piazza Maggiore is the best starting point to explore Bologna. Once here, I’d recommend stopping at the Palazzo del Podesta first because the Tourist Information Centre is located on the left hand side on the ground floor. They are particularly helpful here and have a large number of maps and brochures. They also offer a large range of tours and are happy to spend some time advising you if you need help.
There are a number of cafes under the portico where you can grab a coffee and look out across the huge piazza. Even better, if you can return later in the day for aperitivo - I can highly recommend sitting in one of these cafes with an Aperol at the end of the day and enjoying looking directly across at the basilica.
Points of Interest:
• If you look above the present-day cafes, you can see the balcony area where medieval authorities stood to announce government decisions and criminal sentences.
• The Palazzo arches were the site of hangings in the 1500s and some hangings were by defenestration and wrongdoers were thrown by rope from the Palazzo windows.
• The Palazzo Re Enzo and tower were added in 1245. In its heyday, the tower’s bell would ring out to call citizens to meet in the piazza in times of danger.
• The huge room on the top level was for the tribunal and later for the conclave of cardinals who elected the anti-pope Giovanni XXIII. Nowadays exhibitions are sometimes held here but I don't think you can enter otherwise.
• Most interesting is the story of King Enzo of Sardinia. Captured in battle, he was locked up in the tower for 23 years until he died in 1272. For the most part he was allowed a lot of freedom and luxuries but at night, security was ramped up and he was locked in a cage and suspended from the ceiling. This was probably prompted by numerous escape attempts, including one where he hid in a big wooden wine basket but unfortunately his thick, blond hair stuck out the top and he was spotted
• If you have kids with you, a fun thing to do is to try out the ‘whispering gallery’. This is a special spot where the two passages on the ground floor intersect. We forgot to try this but apparently if you stand diagonally opposite someone and whisper, they will hear you, loud and clear. Worth a try if you remember.
• It’s also interesting to note the rosettes carved on the portico pillars – there are 3000+ of them and not one is the same.
The Piazza Maggiore is the best starting point to explore Bologna. Once here, I’d recommend stopping at the Palazzo del Podesta first because the Tourist Information Centre is located on the left hand side on the ground floor. They are particularly helpful here and have a large number of maps and brochures. They also offer a large range of tours and are happy to spend some time advising you if you need help.
There are a number of cafes under the portico where you can grab a coffee and look out across the huge piazza. Even better, if you can return later in the day for aperitivo - I can highly recommend sitting in one of these cafes with an Aperol at the end of the day and enjoying looking directly across at the basilica.
Points of Interest:
• If you look above the present-day cafes, you can see the balcony area where medieval authorities stood to announce government decisions and criminal sentences.
• The Palazzo arches were the site of hangings in the 1500s and some hangings were by defenestration and wrongdoers were thrown by rope from the Palazzo windows.
• The Palazzo Re Enzo and tower were added in 1245. In its heyday, the tower’s bell would ring out to call citizens to meet in the piazza in times of danger.
• The huge room on the top level was for the tribunal and later for the conclave of cardinals who elected the anti-pope Giovanni XXIII. Nowadays exhibitions are sometimes held here but I don't think you can enter otherwise.
• Most interesting is the story of King Enzo of Sardinia. Captured in battle, he was locked up in the tower for 23 years until he died in 1272. For the most part he was allowed a lot of freedom and luxuries but at night, security was ramped up and he was locked in a cage and suspended from the ceiling. This was probably prompted by numerous escape attempts, including one where he hid in a big wooden wine basket but unfortunately his thick, blond hair stuck out the top and he was spotted
• If you have kids with you, a fun thing to do is to try out the ‘whispering gallery’. This is a special spot where the two passages on the ground floor intersect. We forgot to try this but apparently if you stand diagonally opposite someone and whisper, they will hear you, loud and clear. Worth a try if you remember.
• It’s also interesting to note the rosettes carved on the portico pillars – there are 3000+ of them and not one is the same.
Written 1 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JeanChippenham
Bath, UK180 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Whilst this building still houses civic adminstration for Bologna some rooms are open to the public at no charge, there is also the civic art collection which does incur a charge. We only visited the public rooms and were lucky to see the Red Room as just as we were leaving a wedding party arrived. The council chamber was also very interesting to see in terms of ancient building and modern technology.
Written 15 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tarty
Prestatyn, UK733 contributions
Sept 2017
Bologna is a lovely place full of culture and beautiful places to visit we would recommend the city bus tours so much it take in
Written 14 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tdhat
Flower Mound, TX773 contributions
Feb 2020
At night the building is well light and the piazza is crowded makes for some great pictures. Nice Architecture
Written 9 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angelo S
Hilliard, OH5,124 contributions
Sept 2019
Many different places housed within this building next to Palazzo Enzo houses a few larger coffee shops and is home to Bologna Welcome. There is a pass-through to the back of the building where a restaurant and gelateria can be found. Wonderful architecture and a few little nooks to explore.
Written 29 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelleruk
Derbyshire529 contributions
Sept 2019
Palazzo del Podesta is a civic building built around 1200. It face the Basilica of San Petronio.
The lower floor is a double open arcade, the so-called Voltone del Podestà, through which pass two lanes of shops. There are lots of bars, cafes and shops in the arcade which are pricey but the views and atmosphere are fantastic.
The lower floor is a double open arcade, the so-called Voltone del Podestà, through which pass two lanes of shops. There are lots of bars, cafes and shops in the arcade which are pricey but the views and atmosphere are fantastic.
Written 24 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah_j_c_3
London, UK231 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
Located in Piazza Maggiore it is well worth a visit to see the interesting architecture. Plenty of places nearby to grab a coffee, drink or a bite to eat.
Written 19 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FayeInAmsterdam
Amsterdam, The Netherlands1,351 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
On the Piazza Maggiore are many important buildings of Bologna. One of them is this palazzo. Interesting architecture with a tower too.
Written 19 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buongiorno sono una docente e vorrei visitare il palazzo insieme ad un gruppo di circa 80 alunni , nel mese di marzo 2020. Gradirei conoscere il costo del biglietto e dove effettuare la prenotazione. Grazie
Written 5 October 2019
Salve, che io sappia il Palazzo del Podestà è visitabile soltanto in occasione di mostre ed eventi. Magari può contattare l'ufficio del Turismo, per sapere se fanno deroghe speciali per le scuole. Buona gita.
Written 5 October 2019
Showing results 1-1 of 1
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing