The Town Hall of

Meran Merano (, ; ) or Meran () is a (municipality) in South Tyrol, Northern Italy. Generally best known for its spa resorts, it is located within a basin, surrounded by mountains standing up to above sea level, at the entrance to the Passeier Va ...

() in

South Tyrol South Tyrol ( , ; ; ), officially the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol, is an autonomous administrative division, autonomous provinces of Italy, province in northern Italy. Together with Trentino, South Tyrol forms the autonomo ...

is the seat of the municipal government and assembly. It is located at the corner of the ''Laubengasse'' and the ''Galilei-Straße''.

History

The town hall used to be located at the corner of the ''Laubengasse'' and the ''Postgasse'' and dated from the times when Meran was part of

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...

. After the annexation following World War I to Italy, the fascist authorities decided to construct a new town hall. The ''Postgasse'' was renamed into ''Via Galilei'' as part of their

Italianization Italianization ( ; ; ; ; ; ) is the spread of Italian culture, language and identity by way of integration or assimilation. It is also known for a process organized by the Kingdom of Italy to force cultural and ethnic assimilation of the nati ...

campaign. The old town hall was ripped down and a new structure erected in the fascist style of the time between 1929-1932. The architect was Ettore Sottsass sen., the exterior reliefs and the paintings are the work of the sculptor Albert Stolz (1875-1947). The building also consists of the arches that are the landmark of the ''Laubengasse''. It has a clock tower with an inscription "CIVIVM HONORI REI PUBLICAE LABORI VRBIS DECORI MCMXXIX ANNO VII" (To the citizens in honour - To the state in function - To the city as decoration - Fascist Year 7 (1929)). Inside the main entrance archway are two stone plaques. One shows the coats of arms of Meran and its districts. The other plaque was installed by the government of Benito Mussolini, giving their version of World War I with a quote by general

Armando Diaz Armando Diaz, 1st Duke della Vittoria, (5 December 1861 – 28 February 1928) was an Italian general and a Marshal of Italy. He is mostly known for his role as Chief of Staff of the Regio Esercito during World War I from November 1917. He ...

, which caused general offence to the native German-speaking population, who fought for Austria during the war. After World War II and the end of the Fascist regime, the plaque and its inscription was left intact, but a new plaque was added underneath it by the civic authorities which gives a proper account and points out to the origins of the old plaque within the historic context. The plaque serves today as a memorial, as a warning to future generations.

External links

Homepage of the municipality of Meran
{{coord missing, Italy City and town halls in Italy Italian fascist architecture Merano