It took a while to figure out how to get into the Sala dei Notari, at one end of the Palazzo dei Priori. Was it accessible from inside the museum of art? (No.) Could we open the door at the top of the steps? (No.) Were opening hours posted on that little sign? (No.) Could we ask all those intimidating Italian teenagers how to get in? (No, are you crazy? They'd probably throw espresso in our faces and then put their cigarettes out on our arms.) Eventually we settled for the "come back later" strategy, and I'm glad we did because it was totally worth seeing.
Built between 1293 and 1443 and used as a civil court, the hall is covered with frescoes all over its vaulted ceiling and walls, which show fables, coats of arms and bible stories. It's sort of like being in the hull of an elaborately-decorated, upside-down ship.
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| Fable of the fox and the crow |
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| Doggos! |
We walked over to the Rocca Paolina, or more accurately, to the Piazza Rossi Scotti, built on top of the former fortress's walls. The fortress was built in the 16th century under Pope Paul III, who defeated the free city and brought it under Papal control in the Salt War. He had a neighbourhood razed to build the impressive structure as a sign of dominance over the city. It was finally destroyed in the 19th century when Italy was reunified.
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| That white blur on the hillside in the middle of the picture is Assisi |
Scary teenagers!
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