Palazzo della Ragione (the Hall of Justice) is one of the most impressive tourist attractions in Milan. Every year thousands of tourists from different corners of the world come to Milan to spend a gala time in this beautiful city, which is considered as the commercial as well as the fashion capital of the Italy.

Palazzo della Ragione reflects the bygone past of the city which has various mystic tales to unfold. The lower part of the monument belongs to the 13th century, while the upper part was built during the 18th century.

A great hall on the upper floor of the monument measures 81.5m in length, 27m in breadth, and has a height of 24m. Due to the efforts of one of the Augustinian friars, named Fra Giovanni, it was covered by a single roof in the year 1306. The walls of the great hall were decorated by frescoes in the first decade of the 14th century. In 1420, a fire demolished the frescoes. They were restored by the Paduan master Nicolò Miretto in collaboration with Stefano da Ferrara and some other painters.

Palazzo della Ragione has been renovated several times. On 17 August, 1756, the monument was hit by a tornado and its roof was severely damaged. The restoration works ended in October 2004.

Due to several reasons such as the vibrations produced by the trains, excavation of the first underground line close to the foundations, etc., the condition of the monument became worse in the 1960s and 70s.

Palazzo della Ragione, which was once the courthouse of the city has some shops and stores on the ground floor. Towards the north-east corner of the building you will see the Stone of Vituperation, or Stone of Shame, dating back to 1231. This was used to humiliate the debtors. As the legend goes, on the request of St. Anthony, it was decreed that a man who becomes guilty of not paying his debts, will sit for three times on the stone wearing just his underwear and declare his insolvency by saying “Cedo bonis” (I give up my worldly goods”). The debtor was banished from the city. If he came again, he was re-punished and three buckets of cold water were emptied over his head.

Palazzo della Ragione Map

Facts about Palazzo della Ragione

• Palazzo della Ragione is considered as the oldest masonry public building in Milan.
• The construction of this building began in 1172 and was completed in 1219.
• It is a medieval town hall building whose massive roof sits unsupported by columns.

Where is Palazzo della Ragione?

The Palazzo della Ragione is located in Padua, Italy. You can reach the monument within ten minutes drive by car from the Padua “Gino Allegri” Airport, also called Aeroporto di Padova “Gino Allegri” in Italian.

Best time to visit Palazzo della Ragione

The best time to visit Palazzo della Ragione is during spring and fall months as the weather is pleasant.

Palazzo della Ragione Hours

The Palazzo della Ragione opens on Tuesdays to Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (until 6:00 p.m. in winter).

Palazzo della Ragione Tickets

The entry ticket to the civil monument costs €4.00 per individual. The reduced rates are €2.00. Admission to the monument is free for children below 6 years of age, and for people with disabilities.

More on Palazzo della Ragione

Nearby Attractions: Piazza del Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Teatro alla Scala, Piazza della Scala, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, and La Rinascente.

Don’t miss Italy major attractions:  Leaning Tower of Pisa, Amalfi Coast, Venice, Colosseum, Rome, Portofino, Uffizi Gallery, Pompeii.

Pompeii, Italy – If you want to travel back 2,000 years, come to Pompeii. This largest archeological site in Europe is where history resides. The well-preserved ruins of the once prosperous city are a testimony to the yesteryear glories and a window to the ancient ways of life in Italy. The charm of this heritage site lingers long after you have paid a visit.

History

Pompeii belonged to the ancient Greeks, who first settled here in the 8^th century B.C. However, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 buried the city under a thick sheet of volcanic ashes. The site was rediscovered by a delegation of archeologists in 1748 and found most parts of the city virtually intact. UNESCO designated Pompeii as a World Heritage Site in 1997.

Things to Do in Pompeii

The premier archeological site is the place to get familiar with the ancient Italian way of living. It’s a rare visit to centuries-old homes, shops, temples, amphitheaters and more.

Do visit Mount Vesuvius, Europe’s only active volcano that invites you to hike and reach the 3,900-ft-high summit. The aerial view of the Bay of Naples from the summit is fascinating.

Nearby Attractions

When you have a happening city like Naples in close vicinity, then you are up for having some really good time hanging around. Enter Naples and you will have a number of famous destinations at your disposal such as the Naples National Archeological Museum, Naples Cathedral, San Francesco di Paola, Castel Nuovo, Royal Palace of Naples, Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso, and Teatro di San Carlo (Royal Theatre of Saint Charles).

Where is Pompeii?

Pompeii is close to the Bay of Naples in the Province of Naples in South-western Italy.

How to Reach Pompeii?

 By Air – The Naples International Airport is the nearest one from Pompeii. It takes a half-an-hour drive from the airport to cover a distance of around 30 km.

 By Train – Circumvesuviana di Napoli is the nearest railway station from Pompeii, which is located at a distance of 25.5 km. The railway route connects Pompeii with Circumvesuviana and Sorrento.

 By Road – The Naples Metropolitan City is a mere 25.6 km from Pompeii and requires a half-an-hour drive from there. Pompeii is also well connected by road to some of the other major cities of the region.

Accommodations

There are several hotels near Pompeii to choose from. Pompeii Resort, Hotel Forum, Hotel Palma, and Hotel Maiuri take care of the needs of those who won’t mind shelling out more in return of luxury. Accommodations such as Hotel Iside, Hotel Diana, Hotel Degli Amici, Hotel Del Sole, Hotel Visagi, Hotel Giovanna, and Santa Caterina are the best options for the economy travelers to choose from.

Restaurants

Although there are very few restaurants near Pompeii, they do provide great food. The President and Ristorante Lucullus offer sumptuous Italian dishes and delicacies. If you want to try pizzas, head to Ristorante & Pizzeria da Gigino. The Melius, a gourmet deli, offers you plenty to choose from and satisfy your taste buds. Local delicacies such as Soppressata Cilentana (smoked salami from Cilento), Gragnano pasta, mozzarella di bufala, and Amalfi Coast marmalades are some of the best you can get in the country. If you head northwards to the city of Naples, more options open up.

Best Time to Visit

April to October is the best time to visit Pompeii as the weather remains quite pleasant during this period.

Things to Remember

Operating Hours

08:30 to 19:30 (April-October). No entry after 18:00

08:30 to 17:00 (November-March). No entry after 15:30

Entry Tickets

Adults – €11

EU citizens under 18 and over 65 years – Entry Free

Facts About Pompeii

• Pompeii was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
• The city is spread over an area of 98 hectares.
• The ruins of Pompeii are the largest archeological site in Europe.
• This tourist destination attracts over 2.5 million visitors from around the world every year.
• As per the historians, the destroyer of Ancient Pompeii – Mount Vesuvius – has seen more than 50 eruptions over the centuries.
• The archeological excavations of Pompeii are still going on even after three centuries have passed since it was re-discovered.
• Find out facts about Italy here….

Image Credit: Kim Traynor

Don’t miss Italy major attractions:  Leaning Tower of Pisa, Amalfi Coast, Venice, Colosseum, Rome, Portofino, Uffizi Gallery, Pompeii.