Carigrad Town Hall

Carigrad Town Hall
Carigradska gradska većnica
Alternative names	Old Town Palace
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Town hall
Architectural style	Medieval, Gothic, Baroque
Location	Old Town Square, Carigrad, Nikolia
Address	Starogradski trg 1
Current tenants	Carigrad City Government, various municipal departments
Construction started	1363
Owner	Carigrad City Government
Height	73m

Carigrad Town Hall (Sirmian: Carigradska gradska većnica), also known as Old Town Palace (Sirmian: Starogradska palata) is a complex of interconnected buildings taking up central position at the Old Town Square, a principal and central square of Carigrad, Nikolia. Since its inauguration in 1363, it hosts offices of Carigrad's city administration, as well as several other municipal departments, a museum and an art gallery, as well as observation point at its 73 meter high tower. In 1991 the Town Hall was inscribed in ARCHO list of heritage sites as part of the entry Historic Centre of Carigrad and Surroundings.

History and development

Inauguration

During the 12th and 13th centuries, at the height of medieval urban development of Carigrad, its administration was lacking a suitable location for their offices. Being originally seated in the Imperial Palace of Carigrad's eastern wing, a fire that broke out in the eastern wing in 1362 made the Carigrad administration seek new location. Later that year, city councillors, led by knez Miroslav I Kaštrumović bought the large partician house at the Old Town square from the Verunović merchant family and adapted it and inaugurated it the following year. Several years later, in 1375, a stone tower was constructed on the eastern side of the building facing the Old Town Square, which still stands today.

Expansion of the town hall

Main, southern entrance to the town hall, the only remaining part of the original structure from 14th century.

Gothic chapel on the eastern wing of the town hall.

Throughout the centuries, the Carigrad Town Hall expanded several times to encompass several adjactent buildings, so much so that the original 14th century house is nowadays completely covered with newer buildings, bar the monumental Gothic portal facing south which serves as the main entrance to the town hall. During the early 15th century, the town hall's expansion was slow. In 1410 another house to the west was bought, which allowed for expansion of the interior halls. Start of the War of the Crowns in 1415 halted the expansion works and froze them until its end in 1429. After winning the war and relocating to Carigrad, Emperor Bolesław I of Mazuria ordered continuation of the works and further expansion of the town hall by workers he brought from Mazuria. During Bolesław I's rule, town hall was further expanded towards west, new Clock house was bought and construction of the astronomical clock was commenced in 1437. In 1443, a chapel was built and consecrated in the eastern wing.

During the 17th century revolt, the town hall was damaged and it had to be renovated extensively between 1680 and 1708 in Renaissance and baroque styles, which changed the original exterior look of the building. The Town Hall saw the greatest expansion and renovation during the 18th and 19th centuries when Neogothic eastern wing was constructed, which housed the main council chamber as well as offices of the mayor and their deputies. In 1925, during the December overturn, eastern wing was destroyed in a fire, while the remaining of the building was damaged. Following the reconstruction in 1930, remaining torso of the eastern wing remained, while rest of the structure was demolished. Interior of the town hall was reconstructed as well, nearly completely removing the original architecture.

Neogothic eastern wing constructed in 1850 (left), destroyed in 1925 in December overturn with remaining torso (right).

Building interior

Entrance halls and ground floor

Two large entrance halls on the southern and northern wing designed during the extensive renovation works in 17th century are decorated with Renaissance and Baroque elements. Eastern wall of the southern, main entrance hall is decorated with a large depiction of the legend of Stefan I meeting Archangel Gabriel, which is also a legend of Carigrad's creation. Ceilings of both entrance halls are decorated with cross arches and a mosaic with Nikolian coat of arms. Southern wing also hosts an art gallery in Radak house.

First floor

Staircases leading to the first floor were redesigned in 19th century by Nikolian architect Branislav Ivković. The first floor contains two halls used for wedding ceremonies. The larger one, Katarina's hall, is decorated with several bronze statues symbolising fertility and marriage, while the wall contains a painting of a royal marriage of Aleksandar I.

Second floor

Old Session Hall in northwestern wing of the second floor.

Second floor is known for several notable halls, with the largest being Old Council Hall, which now serves as a conference hall. On its eastern and western walls there are large paintings of two notable events of Carigrad and Nikolian history. Eastern wall is decorated with a painting of King Bolesław I's entrance to Carigrad, painted in 1690 by Aleksandar Jović, while the western wall contains the depiction of the unification of Nikolia in 1677 painted by Vasa Radić in 1699.

The oldest hall on the second floor is the Reception Hall on the eastern wing, built in 1443 together with the Town Hall Chapel, with which is connected with an arching portal over which stands King Bolesław I's monogram. Old Session Hall, being the smallest one, is located on the northwestern part of the building. It is decorated with armorials of Carigrad with gold details and with wooden gothic ceiling beams.

Third floor

Monolithic red marble portal leading to the Senate chamber (left) and to the offices of the Mayor (right).

The third floor contains city administrative offices and it is generally closed to the public. From the central stairways the two monolithic red marble portals lead into the administrative offices. On the left, a red marble portal is decorated with armorial of Carigrad with a bust of Emperor Stefan I, with two female figures symbolising Justice and Truth and a plaque with inscription "Senatus" in gold. This portal leads to the city council offices with one main session chamber and another smaller one for committee meetings. On the right side, a portal's crest contains municipal armorial with a bust of Bolesław I with two sitting female figures and a plaque with inscription "Praesidium" in gold. This portal leads to Mayor's cabinet as well as offices of its deputies and other supporting facilities. Although the Carigrad city administration generally uses another building for its everyday operations, the Mayor's cabinet uses Carigrad Town Hall for its operations.