Overlooking Piazza Duomo, in the historical centre of Voghera, stands the imposing Palazzo Gounela, a building that not only represents the city‘s neoclassical architecture, but also bears witness to centuries of local history and traditions.
Palazzo Gounela occupies a site of great historical importance, where the old city praetorium once stood. Designed by the Milanese architect Giacomo Maraglia in 1829, the palace was commissioned by the Municipality of Voghera with the aim of creating a municipal seat that would reflect the city‘s growing importance in the political and social landscape of the 19th century. Construction work, however, did not begin until fifteen years later, in 1844, under the direction of the Turinese architect Gioacchino dell‘Isola Del Borghetto, and was completed in 1847.
The building, realised in Neoclassical style, is characterised by an austere and solemn façade, dominated by a triangular tympanum supported by four large Doric columns. This architectural element, typical of neoclassicism, gives the building an air of authority and rigour, qualities that are perfectly suited to a municipal seat. The tympanum and columns stand out majestically against the square, giving the entire structure an almost monumental presence.
The name ‘Palazzo Gounela’ is a curious tribute to the memory of Giovanni Gonella, a municipal employee who became a prominent figure in 19th-century city life. Known by the dialectal nickname ‘Gounela’, Giovanni Gonella was a colourful character whose presence in the palace became so characteristic that the citizens of Voghera began to refer to the building by his name. This nickname has been handed down over time, and even today Palazzo Gounela is known by this appellation, an example of how popular history can intertwine with official history.
The Council Chamber: A Treasury of Art and History
One of the jewels of Palazzo Gounela is undoubtedly the Council Chamber, a richly decorated room that hosts city council meetings. The vault of the room was masterfully frescoed by the Turinese painter Paolo Emilio Morgari, who depicted a fundamental historical moment for Voghera: the elevation of the town to the rank of city by King Charles Emmanuel III on 2 June 1770.
The Battle Room: Memory of Risorgimento History
Another room of great interest inside Palazzo Gounela is the Sala della Battaglia (Battle Room), so called because of the imposing painting that dominates one of its walls, the work of Count Stanislao Grimaldi. This painting depicts a scene from the Battle of Montebello, fought on 20 May 1859 during the Second Italian War of Independence. The battle, which saw the victory of the French-Piedmontese troops against the Austrian army, was a crucial episode in the struggle for the unification of Italy, and the painting captures its intensity and historical significance.
Palazzo Gounela is not only a building of great architectural beauty, but also a symbol of Voghera‘s history and identity. Every corner of it, every fresco and every decoration tells a part of the city‘s history, making this palace not only a place of government, but also a precious custodian of collective memory. Those who visit Palazzo Gounela cannot help but feel the weight of history in the air, a constant reminder of Voghera‘s cultural wealth and traditions.
