The austere Guardaporta

The majestic building  of Saint James, changed from The Palace of Bourbon Ministry to seat of the Municipality, had a role of "main character" in city life and was affirmed in that position, convalidated and showed through big signs. As in the past, in the main hall had to continue to be and carry out a delicate and representative role a gallooned Guardaporta (with capital letter).
 
Since remote ages severe keeper of the entrance of Royal building, of the noble residence and of the istitutional seats, become austere thanks to a shining uniform, the Guardaporta ( in the ancient times known as atriense) denied the entrance to everyone that hadn't the "viglietto d'ammissione", gave indications for "the access to the Palace" and represented the first "meeting of representation" for famous guests to whom was symbolically opened the "main door".
 
Near the Historical Municipal Archive is conserved a drawing by Luigi Piccioli which represents the "cloth", that  is the uniform, of the "Guardaporta of the main seat of the Municipality". The paper is dateless, but together with papers that concerns it and that allow to date it in 1875.
 
 
 
 

 
The colors of the city armorial bearings are the theme used in the conceiveing of livery. Respecting the stylistic canons of uniform of ancien régime, the cloth is composed by: single-breasted giamberga in red cloth lined in a yellow light fabric, collar, cuffs and trimming edge in yellow too; petticoat (or gilet)in red cloth with trimming edge in yellow and double row of golden buttons; stockings in red cloth with yellow edge white socks and pumps in black leather. 
 

 Two-cornered hat in black felt with ted and yallow string that ends with yellow bows, yellow-red cockade on yellow stripe, white plumage, yellow panache with red feathers. White gloves. Shoulder belt, with the armorial bearings of the city, in yellow cloth with yellow bows too; a sword is hung to the shoulder belt and it's characterized by a cross hilt. Mace with a big pommel and silver tip.