Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo

In the historical heart of Reggio Emilia stands the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, one of the oldest and most symbolic buildings in the city.
Built in 1280 as the seat of the Captain of the People - a key figure in the municipal government alongside the Podestà - the palace was for centuries a protagonist of Reggio's political, social, and civic life.
Restored as early as 1432, the building continued to perform public functions even under the rule of the Este family.
In 1515, its purpose changed, becoming the Ospizio del Cappello Rosso (Hospice of the Red Hat), which also occupied the adjacent building; in 1913, following a major modernization, it was transformed into the Albergo della Posta.
During the renovation work on the façade, which began in 1920, significant traces of the ancient medieval front came to light.
A philological period reconstruction, completed in 1929, was based on these remains, restoring the palace to its current historical appearance. The façades overlooking Via Emilia and the square are decorated with coats of arms of the Captains of the People and the Community, partly recovered and partly reconstructed.
Inside, the large Salone dei Difensori (Hall of the Defenders) opens up, once the seat of city councils. Here, the restoration brought to light the striking ceiling with exposed wooden trusses and precious fourteenth-century decorations depicting heraldic shields and heads of saints, rare testimonies of local medieval painting.
The Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo is today one of the most characteristic buildings in the historical center: an unmissable stop for those wishing to discover medieval Reggio Emilia, amidst civic power, art, and historical memory.