Wikipedia
The Italian word arengario (also spelled arrengario or arengo; pl.: arengari, arrengari, arenghi) refers to government buildings of different historic periods. The word comes from the verb "arringare" ("to address"), as arengari usually have balconies from which the authorities would address the population in public speeches.
The word originally indicated the town hall of Italian medieval communes, especially in Northern Italy. It was reintroduced during the Fascist era, also to refer to local governments seats, such as the seat of the podestà (mayor). As a consequence, a number of both medieval and modern (Fascist) buildings in different Italian cities are known as "Arengario". Notable arengari include:
- the medieval Arengario of Monza
- the medieval Arengario of Brescia
- the Fascist Arengario of Milan
The Arengario is a historic building in Monza, northern Italy. It was built in the 13th century and is named after its original function as the town's " arengario" (i.e., town hall). It is located in the most central square of Monza, Piazza Roma.
Its architecture is clearly inspired by that of the Palazzo della Ragione of Milan, with a portico surmounted by a single upper floor that was used for councils. The side of the building facing South has a small stone loggia (added to the main building in 1330) informally known as "la Parléra" (in Lombard, "the speaking place"), where the commune's decrees were declaimed to the population. In the 14th century, a bell tower was added, decorated with Ghibelline-styled merlons. In the original building, external stairs led to the upper floor; these have been replaced in 1904 with a new stairway inside the tower.