Palazzo Pretorio

A civic landmark on Piazza del Duomo

The Palazzo Pretorio is the seat of the Pistoia court and is located in Piazza del Duomo. Its current appearance dates back to 1846, following the addition of an upper floor and the restoration of the internal courtyard.

Palazzo Pretorio, also known as Palazzo del Podestà, is one of the historic buildings that frame Piazza del Duomo. Its presence adds a strong civic and judicial character to the monumental heart of Pistoia.

For visitors, it helps complete the reading of the square: religious power, civic government and public justice all meet within a few steps.

It is best visited as part of a slow walk around Piazza del Duomo, together with the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the surrounding palaces.

The interior is decorated with shields on arabesque backgrounds, sometimes red, sometimes blue. Looking towards the inner courtyard, the large arch of the entrance vault features two lions, one on each side, each holding a shield on a white background with a red cross. At the opposite apex, the shields are supported by angels protruding from a shield surrounded by clouds at the center of the arch.