Historic palace in Belluno
Belluno, located in the heart of the Dolomites and capital of the province of the same name in northern Veneto, is a city rich in history, culture and natural beauty. Known as the Shining City, a term attributed to it by the Celts (Belo-donum), Belluno captivates its enchanting landscape embracing the Belluno Dolomites National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historical center of Belluno is a jewel of architecture and art, with a 15th-century imprint reflected in many buildings, including the Palazzo dei Rettori (Miari). A XV century structure, with later enlargements and changes, that were necessary to adapt the building to the rapidly increasing nearby palace that Venice was raising to host its governors. Peculiar and rare, the solution was adopted for the ground floor arcade, with its twin central columns. The building also testifies the passage from one branch of the Miari family to the other thanks to two slightly different coats of arms (from XVI and XVII century) carved in the stone of the side pillars of the court entrance: they both show the original and most ancient form of the family coat of arms, whereas the main branch in early XV century had the privilege to add an imperial eagle on top of the shield.