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 Palazzo ComunaleThe Palazzo Comunale, also known as the Palazzo del Popolo or Palazzo Nuovo del Podestà, is located in Piazza del Duomo alongside the Cathedral, or Collegiata, and houses the "historical" venue of the Musei Civici of San Gimignano.The first floor is the location of the Sala del Consiglio (Council Room), also known as the Sala Dante, so called in recollection of the Florentine poet's visit in 1299 as the ambassador of the Guelph League. The room exhibits a famous, late thirteenth-century fresco cycle (1290 circa) depicting tournaments of knights and hunting scenes dedicated to Charles of Anjou who is depicted enthroned on the wall opposite the entrance, as several personages render homage to him with the gift of a falcon. The paintings are attributed to Florentine painter Azzo di Masetto. On the right wall is the Madonna in Maestà that Lippo Memmi painted in 1317. A painter of the Sienese school, Lippo Memmi was a follower of Simone Martini and was active during the first half of the XIV century. The fresco was indeed inspired by the Maestà Simone Martini had painted in the Palazzo Pubblico of Siena two years earlier, that is in the year 1315. The second floor is the location of the Chamber of the Podestà, the title of a high official in many Italian cities beginning in the late Middle Ages. The room is entirely frescoed with a unique narration presenting love scenes, in addition to a series of moral exempla addressed to the Podestà who is entreated not to give in to corruption. Executed in the early 1330s, the frescoes are attributed to Memmo di Filippuccio, father of Lippo Memmi.
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