About
The Salòn or Palazzo della Ragione in Padua is a renowned suspended courtroom, one of the biggest in Europe with dimensions of 82 meters by 27 meters.
This historic building was erected in 1218 and is considered a significant example of civil monuments from the era of Communes. Initially divided into three large rooms, it was redesigned into a single hall with an upturned ship's hull roof by Fra Giovanni degli Eremitani between 1306 and 1308. Despite being destroyed in a fire in 1420, the frescoes on the walls were restored by Nicolo' Miretto and his team based on the studies of Pietro d'Abano. The cycle consists of 333 panels divided into three overlapping bands, making it one of the few medieval astrological cycles still intact today. The animal figures depicted in the frescoes hold significance as they were used as emblems for various court seats. These paintings also represent the function of the hall itself, with allegories of Justice, Law, and Municipality in Signoria, along with scenes of judgement and trials such as that of Solomon.
