6. Town Hall

The building is currently home to the town hall. Its construction dates back to 1760, commissioned by Prince Marcantonio Borghese, a man of great culture who used it as a summer residence for his family. Later, in 1894, the Palazzo “Manetti” (named after its new owner) was purchased to house municipal offices, schools, and residences for some employees. Until the last century, the building served as the village’s elementary school before being designated exclusively for municipal use. 

More recently, the palace has undergone expansions. It consists of three floors, accessible via two main doors located on the square and a secondary entrance on Via della Gavettona. The windows offer picturesque views of the lake, while the council chamber provides a splendid panorama, ideal for wedding ceremonies.

On the facade of the town hall, there is a marble plaque commemorating those who fell and went missing in wars. The municipal coat of arms reflects the origin of Capodimonte’s name: “castrum,” with fortified walls shaped like a crown; “capitis,” featuring a central female figure; and “montis,” symbolized by a mountain at the bottom.

Next to the town hall, on the left, stands a lower architectural complex that was originally owned by the Farnese family and belonged to the Rocca: the stables. The building has been restored and repurposed but retains on the upper part of its left outer wall, beneath the Clock Tower, the heraldic insignia of the Farnese family. This bas-relief in travertine depicts all the symbols of the house: a helmet with a unicorn-shaped crest, a twisted torse, a plumed crest with acanthus leaves, and a shield adorned with lilies.

The helmet and the lilies represented the military valor of the Farnese family, skilled leaders in service to nobles and popes. The unicorn, a medieval symbol of power and purity, was said to have the ability to purify poisoned waters. According to legend, the fluttering veil around the unicorn’s neck was gifted by a Queen of Naples to a member of the Farnese family for his distinguished performance in battle.