Separating Piazza delle Erbe from Piazza della Frutta stands Palazzo della Ragione, commonly called Il Salone, one of the most imposing and important monuments of Padua. Started in 1218, and enlarged in 1306 by Fra’ Giovanni degli Eremitani, it was the seat of the law court up to the end of the 18th c. A busy market occupies daily the ground floor and the adjoining Piazze. The upper floor is one vast hall (81 mt. long, 27 mt. wide and 27 mt. large). On the walls there is a spectacular cycle of frescoes (more than 300 scenes) of religious and astrological subjects (1425-1440).