Have you ever wondered why one of Bologna’s most medieval buildings is located right next to the Basilica of San Petronio? It’s the Palazzo dei Notai, the historic headquarters of the powerful guild of Bolognese notaries, in the heart of Piazza Maggiore. It was 1381, when the Society of Notaries decided to build a palace that would represent their power and the central role this profession had in the city’s political and economic life. Contracts, official documents, and agreements crucial to Bologna, then one of Europe’s most important legal centers, were drawn up here. The red brick façade, with Ghibelline battlements and large Gothic windows, conveys solidity and authority. Observe the coat of arms: three inkwells with quills, symbolizing the profession of notaries, guarantors of legality and the written word in the Middle Ages. Inside, 15th-century frescoes depicting religious and allegorical scenes are preserved, while today the palace continues to thrive, hosting cultural events and institutional spaces. A major restoration in the early 20th century restored the building to its original medieval appearance.
The Palazzo dei Notai is more than just a historic building: it bears witness to a profession that laid the foundations of modern civil society. Next time you pass by Piazza Maggiore, stop for a moment and look at that building: you’re observing centuries of history written in ink.