Piazza Duomo was the center of administrative and economic activities in Spilimbergo. Here, merchants who arrived from nearby cities by crossing the Tagliamento ford held their markets. Here, negotiations took place, goods were inspected, and tolls were paid. Two important buildings bear witness to this: the 13th-century Palazzo del Daziario, home to the magistrates (where duties and any other tolls imposed by the Lords were collected) and the Palazzo della Loggia (14th century), on the northern side, formerly the municipal seat.

The Palazzo del Daziario

The “domus nova,” the gothic-style home of the tax collector, is characterized by a ring hanging under the north arch of the portico: it was used to attach the steelyard (an ancient lever-operated scale) to check the weight of provisions. An ancient inscription recalls the building's purpose, strategically important for the finances of the Lords of Spilimbergo.

The Pergola later became the Lords' granary and a place where goods were stored and inspected: on a column of the portico, the Macia, the ancient unit of length, is still engraved, which was used to ensure the regularity of transactions.

Palazzo la Loggia was also used as a prison until 1812 when it was ceded to the Società filodrammatica, which transformed it into an elegant theater. In 1865, the building was raised by one floor to accommodate another tier of boxes.

It was renovated after the significant damage suffered from the 1976 earthquake.

Currently, it has been officially declared the Palace of Art, Culture, and Tourism: it houses the Spilimbergo Tourist Office and the Tono Zancanaro Art Gallery.

Texts: ViviSpilimbergo - Photo Denis Scarpante