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Exhibition Center > Le logge della mercanzia |
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THE LOGGE DELLA MERCANZIA AND THE PALAZZO DEL CAPITANO IN PIAZZA GRANDE IN MONTEPULCIANO
The Exhibition Room "The Logge dell Mercanzia" is situated in the Captaino Palace in Montepulciano, dates back to ancient times, research however has not been able to provide precise dates but it is at least from the 1200's. The name, Palazzo del "Captaino", that for many maintains a strong memory of the "Captain of the People", a magistrate figure from the early medieval times, it could also be a recollection of the "Captain for Justice", the city's judge, who was invited to come from Florence around the XV century. Its oldest noteworthy visible representation, is the model of Montepulciano that Sant'Antilia, protector of the city, holds in her hand, in the Triptych of the Assumption by Taddeo di Bartolo (1401), seen above the principal altar of the Cathedral. An interesting description is given by Benci (Spinello Benci, Storia di Montepulciano, Florence 1646 p. 132): "Follow then in the Square the Town Hall... Above which resides the Commissioner, and the Minister of Justice, with a wide and large staircase in travertine...". This staircase goes to the first floor, from this part of the Square is visible the celebrated conventional picture called the "Panorama of Montepulciano". In the picture "Panorama..." also appears a tall tower, which must have still been there in the XV. Evidently in the second half of the XVIII century it underwent a long and radical reconstruction that presumably gave the building its current aspect. It is difficult to say to what extent work was carried out: it is certain it included the demolition of the staircase and the tower, but the construction of the present second floor (very distinct by it Gothic structure) with the creation of the windows in place of the three arched windows in Via Ricci and the actual outlook over the Piazza Grande could also have been earlier.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RESTORATION
The project of restoration on the ground floor of the Captaino Palace allowed the original 1300 typology of the space of the building to be recuperated. The final result has provided two exhibition rooms (The Loggie della Mercanzsia) with an entrance overlooking Via Ricci, connected by a corridor and a lift to the inside of the Palace, as well as to the courtyard, and to the existing Strada Information Centre. In addition two bathrooms (with handicap facilities) have been created in a portion of the inner room, and two new offices for the Strada, located on the corridor level with access to the Palace from the Piazza Grande. (Arch. Riccardo Pizzinelli ).
The Logge della Mercanzia/ The logo
The end of a cycle has seen the consolidation of the activity of the Strada del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, with the opening of the exhibition centre Le Logge della Mercanzia, the symbol of a renewal of the present project reflected in the green colour selected for the logo. The arches recall the mercantile and commercial traditions that were consolidated over the centuries around the production of wine, the colour green, closely associated with nature and the farming culture is tied to the hope for a good wine harvest and a good crop harvest and recalls today's quality of Vino Nobile. A cross between the diffusion of knowledge, tied to the territory and to its productivity, The Logge della Mercanzia is proposed as a study centre for the formation of knowledge around wine and the typical local products, but also as a place for producing and promoting the areas of research. It is hoped, that these projects which we are proud, diffuse the image of Montepulciano, the Loggia and the colour of the logo symbolising a vivacious and dynamic hamlet, that is planning for the present, and for the future.
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