Palazzo del Podestà is situated in Bettona’s main piazza next to Palazzo Biancalana and not far from the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. This unassuming 14th-century building was home to the ancient governors and the Podestà (generally the highest-ranking administrator or chief magistrate). Its construction dates back to the rebuilding of Bettona by Egidio Albornoz in 1367, after the Perugians had razed it to the ground: in 1379, in fact, the decided was made to build a new home for the priors.
The palazzo is important from an historical and artistic point of view, as evidenced by two frescoes: the Maestà e santi, dating back to 1380 and located inside the hall, and the Santi Pietro e Paolo con angeli reggistemma, which is located outside and was painted over half a century later. Both look very faded now and for a long time they went practically unnoticed among the walls of the building. Indeed, over the years, the building took on a different appearance and at the beginning of the 20th century it had 17th-century windows and was a two-storey building, which had been built on the right. It had at least continued to be used for public functions such as hearings with the Conciliator, tax collecting and as a municipal treasury, but the real revival came when it was chosen as the seat of the Bettona’s art gallery.
On August 14, 1904 the Museo della Città di Bettona was finally opened and was housed in the halls of the palazzo, which had been restored to its original 14th-century appearance, thanks to the architect Viviani and the painter Sebastiano Novelli, who frescoed the hall.
Today the museum is still located in the Palazzo del Podestà, but due to an earthquake in 2016, the works have all been moved to Palazzo Biancalana, as the room in Palazzo Podestà is closed temporarily.