Town Hall of Ripe

The Town Hall of Ripe was built on the ruins of the parish house demolished in 1937 and was inaugurated in 1938. Designed with medieval architectural features, including Guelph battlements and an adjacent civic tower, the building met the town’s administrative needs while blending harmoniously with the historic village. The construction was a key urban redevelopment project, enhancing the Castle area and integrating seamlessly into the local historical context.

The Town Hall of Ripe stands in the heart of the historic village, within the ancient castle walls. Its construction began in 1937 on the site of the pre-existing parish house, which was demolished to make way for a more modern and functional municipal headquarters. The building was designed by architect Dominici of Corinaldo, drawing inspiration from the previous rectory and preserving traditional architectural elements, such as the large arched portico open to public passage on three sides.

The official inauguration took place on October 30, 1938, in the presence of provincial authorities. The new structure provided more spacious and dignified offices for the municipal administration and archives, meeting the town’s growing administrative and social needs. Its construction was part of a significant urban redevelopment project, contributing to the restoration and improvement of the historic center.

The building is characterized by its medieval-inspired style, featuring a towered and Guelph-battlemented silhouette reminiscent of ancient fortifications. Next to the structure stands the civic tower, rebuilt over the ruins of a previous structure and modified in 1963 with the addition of the current battlemented tower. Among the historical artifacts, a rare iron weathervane stands out, once placed atop the dome of the old civic tower. This piece depicts Saint Pellegrino, the patron saint of Ripe, alongside the municipal coat of arms, which features three hills topped by a comet star and the date 1141.

The building’s construction, overseen by surveyor Ciceroni, employed 42 workers for a total of 4,800 workdays, at a total cost of 227,000 lire, including landscaping of the surrounding areas. Thanks to this project, the village of Ripe gained an imposing and elegant structure, which seamlessly integrates with the historic setting while fulfilling the town’s modern administrative needs.