The city became a free commune at the beginning of the 12th century. A surge of building activity in the early 13th century included the completion of the town hall, or Broletto (begun 1187), a good example of the transitional phase from Romanesque to Gothic. There is a balcony used to address the townspeople. On the north side, still standing, is one of the two original city bell towers (Lombard: Tòr del Pégol). The Broletto now hosts offices of both the Municipality and the Province.