Mantova, Piazza Broletto

The word broletto (from the Latin term brolo, meaning courtyard or fanced field) has been used since the 11th century to identify - in Lombard towns – the fenced area where the town assemblies were held and justice administered. Then, the term was used to identify the hall of consuls, podestas and generically the town hall. Created around 1190 - when the town was enlarged beyond the original historic centre - Piazza Broletto is surrounded mainly by buildings dating back to the period of the city-states, such as the Palazzo del Podestà, with the Torre Comunale.