Il Palazzo della Ragione, the building that we can see on the left, has had a long and varied history as one would expect from any building that dates back several hundred years.

The name comes from its usage during the time of our dear friends the Scaligera family which ruled during the 12 and 1300s, and which I've described elsewhere in this gallery. It was at that time the law courts. (Hence the name, "the palace of reason", although as someone who spent two years studying amongst other things commercial and corporate law, I feel that I have a certain right to a level of scepticism about the use of the words "reason" and "law" in the one paragraph.)

It has at various times been a grain market, shops, a prison, warehouses; during the 20th century it did even briefly return to being a law court. However after renovations during the first decade of the 21st century, it became an artistic space and now houses the Achille Forti Modern Art Gallery. Which, naturally, we didn't have any time to go in and see. Of course, I didn't even know that was there until I started writing this commentary nine months after I took this shot.

One of its most notable features, unfortunately not visible in this shot is the Scala della Raggione; the "stairs of reason", a large Gothic staircase which was originally covered and led up to the law courts that were once inside the building.