Palazzo Pretorio ora Camera di Commercio

The building was constructed at the end of the 15th century to house the residence of the Venetian Podestà, along with the administrative and judicial offices intended for the governance of Polesine under the rule of the Serenissima. The term “Pretorio” specifically evokes this jurisdictional and political role that the palace held for centuries.
In 1851, the building became the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce, marking a new phase in its history. This change also involved some structural modifications to the original layout, adapted to the needs of the emerging economic and entrepreneurial world. The most significant intervention was the creation, in 1928, of the magnificent Salone del Grano, designed by engineers Pavarin and Silvestrin. This monumental space, used for agricultural trading, is characterized by a large barrel-vaulted glass ceiling that floods the area with natural light, and an elegant mosaic floor, which enhances its architectural and decorative value.
The facade of the palace, sober yet authoritative, reflects the neoclassical styles introduced in subsequent renovations and harmoniously integrates with the urban context of the square. Today, the Chamber of Commerce of Rovigo continues to operate within it.
The Palazzo Pretorio still represents an important point of reference for the institutional and economic history of Rovigo. Witness to the transition from a seat of Venetian power to a center of civil and commercial life in the city, the building, although transformed over the centuries, retains evident traces of its prestigious past.