The first of them is Piacenza, which, behind a bulwark of twelve mighty forts, contains half a hundred churches and half a thousand palaces; but in the sound of its name lingers some trace of the pleasantness of the town in the eyes of bygone generations: Piacenza, how delightfully the word sounds! The central point of such traffic as the town still possesses, is the Piazza dei Cavalli, where stands the Palazzo del Comune which served the citizens for a town-hall. The facade of the ground-floor offers a series of five open arches, beneath which, in old times, the tribunals were held, and public business transacted, whilst the upper story served for the meetings of the town council, and even, during one period, was used as a theatre. Despite the elegant architecture of the central part of the building, with its windows surrounded by richly decorated arches, the effect of the whole is stern and warlike, owing, partly, to the bold battlements which crown the Palazzo. Two bronze equestrian statues of members of the Farnese family, which stand in front of the palace, harmonize admirably with its general tone.
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