Under the Republic of Ragusa, the chief citizen, the Rector, resided on the first floor of this building.
His term of office lasted one month, and he was obliged to stay here (without his family) throughout his appointment. His living quarters now host the Cultural History Museum, exhibiting period furniture and costumes, and paintings of Ragusan aristocrats.
The ground floor housed the Council’s meeting rooms, an armoury, gunpowder store and dungeon. The building itself dates back to the 15th-century, though later additions were made in Renaissance and Baroque styles.