The Broletto is the old town hall of Como: it stands beside the Duomo, in piazza Duomo, on ground where citizens’ assemblies met from the 11th century, and today hosts the Comune’s exhibitions and a tourist Info Point.
History
The land, owned by the Church, was bought by the community in 1205 to build the seat of the institutions, the court and the archives. A plaque says the building was finished in 1215, under the podestà Bonardo da Codazzo; but the triple windows and pointed arches, Gothic in taste, suggest a construction that dragged on or was rebuilt later, into the 14th century. Beside it was raised the tower with the bell used to summon assemblies.
In 1335, with Milanese rule, the Visconti Citadel took in the north-east corner of the building and civic functions lost weight. In 1408, during the struggle between the Rusca and the Vittani, the Broletto was set on fire: the notarial archive was destroyed, and the restoration ended in 1436; only in 1449 did it again host public functions. Then the building of the new cathedral required part of the building and of the external staircase to be demolished, and in 1515 part of the portico linking it to the neighbouring Pretorio also fell (demolished entirely in 1882, according to Wikipedia).
With its civic role gone, in the late 18th century the building was raised and adapted as a theatre, until in 1813 the new Teatro Sociale opened and it became a notarial archive: the Wikipedia entry puts the end of the theatre at 1808, the regional catalogue at 1813. In 1895 the storey added in the 18th century was pulled down and the medieval triple windows became visible again. Because it risked collapse the tower lost part of its height in 1910 and was rebuilt from scratch in 1926-1927. The last major work, from 1997 to 1999, renewed the roof of the upper floor, which has since served for exhibitions and conferences.
What to see
The facade towards the square has four pointed arches on the ground floor and three triple windows above, with stonework in grey, white and red bands and two cornices of blind arches. The left-hand triple window, protected by two pent roofs, served as the stage from which authorities addressed the crowd; between the other two is a balcony on brackets, perhaps added later. Under the portico, at a level lower than today’s square, which corresponds to the original one, you see old pillars and a wooden ceiling. The civic tower, in exposed stone, has a clock, a double window and a bell chamber open on all four sides, which serves as the Duomo’s bell tower. In the first-floor hall traces remain of frescoes with the coats of arms of Como families.
Practical information
- The Broletto is today an exhibition and congress hall of the Comune di Como: the exhibition space is on the first floor, reachable by stairs and lift, and opens when there are exhibitions; it is in the limited-traffic zone. Entry to the exhibitions is through the Comune’s Info Point, on the ground floor, which also sells tickets for Como’s civic museums.
- From 29 May to 27 September 2026 it hosted, together with the Pinacoteca civica, the exhibition “Turner. The enchantment of Lake Como and the Italian landscape”, with works from the Tate in London. We found no other exhibitions already announced.
- Next door: the Duomo of Como.
Sources
- Lombardia Beni Culturali, Palazzo del Broletto entry
- Comune di Como, Broletto and Capolavori dalla Tate
- UPEL Italia, Palazzo del Broletto
- Wikipedia, Broletto di Como entry.
