On Gate of the Hill, the ancient entrance to the city, is preserved the Tiburtine coat of arms, in travertine, dating from the 13th century, in which can be seen a crowned eagle, elevated and clasped with its talons between two crenellated towers divided into two planes, over which single-lancet windows open, bordering a bridge consisting of three arches (four in the specimen of the Porta del Colle) under which a river flows.
Another specimen from the same period, in marble, originally located on the Santa Croce Gate, is in the Municipal Palace, in the second floor lobby.
Originally located on the door of the Casino used as the Municipal Museum (the Pincetto), possibly coming from the Porta Sant’Angelo and now preserved in a room of the Municipal Palace, is another example of the coat of arms of Tivoli, datable to the 14th century, carved in relief in a rectangular marble block.
The motto “Tibur Superbum,” an epithet given by Virgil to the city in Book VII of the Aeneid, does not appear in the coats of arms mentioned above, which, after the victory over Giovanni Acuto and his mercenaries in 1389 at Ponte Lucano, replaced the words “Libertas” and “Nobilitas” that were originally depicted on the towers.
Truncated: to the 1st gules, the golden crowned eagle, flanked by two silver towers, with the legend Libertas in the right one and Nobilitas in the left one; to the 2nd azure, the bridge of three arches, silver, with the floating riviera of the same; in the head of the bridge the legend Tibur Superbum.”
The Red Room (Sala S. Bernardino) of the Municipal Palace houses the Gonfalone in embroidered satin cloth, made by the Sisters of St. Getullio in 1926 based on a design by Tiburtine historian Vincenzo Pacifici.
In 1600 the four contrade (districts) of Tivoli that still characterize the historic center today were officially established: Castrovetere, Santacroce, Trevio, and San Paolo.
The Contrada San Paolo, whose coat of arms depicts an arm banishing a sword, was the most important because it included the Bishopric and the major patrician families residing in the area.
It included the three wards of Palazza, Forma, Postera-Vico Patrizio.
The Contrada Castrovetere, whose coat of arms represents a castle, the symbol of ancient Arce, included the four districts of Riserraglio-Plazula, S. Valerio, Borgo-Caprareccia, and Cornuta.
Contrada Trevio, whose coat of arms represents three streets (or towers) crossed by a chain, with its two wards of Via Maggiore, Inversata-Colsereno.
The Contrada Santa Croce, whose coat of arms represents a cross, with its two districts Valle Gaudente and Colle.
