All Squares

Piazza Italia is one of the most important squares in Reggio Calabria, located in the historic center of the city. Its official name is Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, but it is commonly known by its popular name because of the Monument to Italy standing at its center. The square is the political and administrative heart of Reggio Calabria. Around it stand some of the most important institutional buildings of the city, including Palazzo San Giorgio, the seat of the Municipality, and Palazzo Corrado Alvaro, the seat of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. Piazza Italia has a square-shaped plan and opens on its southeastern side toward Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, the main central street of Reggio Calabria. The square follows the urban layout of the historic center and is positioned obliquely in relation to the cardinal points. This location makes Piazza Italia one of the most central and accessible public spaces in Reggio Calabria. It stands close to major civic, cultural, and commercial points of interest, including Teatro Francesco Cilea, Corso Garibaldi, and other institutional buildings connected to local administration.   Short History of Piazza Italia The Ancient Name – Tocco Piccolo Before receiving its modern name, Piazza Italia was known Read more [...]

Piazza Duomo is one of the main squares in Reggio Calabria, located in the historic center of the city. It opens in front of the Cathedral Basilica of Maria Santissima Assunta in Cielo, but its importance is not limited to the religious building placed on one side. The square is part of the central urban fabric of Reggio Calabria and lies close to Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, the city’s main pedestrian and commercial street. Its position makes it easy to include in a walking itinerary through the historic center, together with Piazza Italia and the waterfront area. Piazza Duomo has an almost square plan and belongs to the modern layout created after the 1908 Messina-Reggio earthquake. The present arrangement of the square reflects the post-earthquake reconstruction of Reggio Calabria, when the city center was reorganized with wider and more regular streets. Before the modern reconstruction, the square was located slightly further north and had a different orientation. Its current position and alignment are connected to the new urban plan prepared after the earthquake, which reshaped much of central Reggio Calabria during the early 20th century.   Short History of Piazza Duomo The Old Name – Tocco Grande The old name of Read more [...]

Piazza San Rocco is the most important square in the historic center of Scilla, one of the most famous coastal towns in Calabria. Located on a rocky terrace overlooking the Strait of Messina, the square occupies a privileged position above the sea and offers some of the most spectacular views along the Costa Viola, the stretch of coastline famous for its changing colors and dramatic landscapes. The square stands in the upper part of Scilla, above the fishing district of Chianalea and not far from the imposing Ruffo Castle. Thanks to its elevated location, Piazza San Rocco has long served as both a gathering place for local residents and a panoramic balcony from which visitors can admire the surrounding scenery. The square is also an important stop for photographers. The combination of historic architecture, open sea views, fishing boats, rugged cliffs, and distant mountains creates an exceptionally photogenic setting throughout the year.   Short History of Piazza San Rocco The history of Piazza San Rocco is closely linked to the development of Scilla itself. For centuries, the upper part of the town served as the administrative and religious center of the local community, while economic activities were concentrated closer to Read more [...]

Piazza del Plebiscito is the most important historic square in the city of Ancona and represents the true civic and symbolic heart of the urban fabric. Located in the upper part of the historic center, the square has played a central role in the political, religious, and social life of the city for over five centuries. Often referred to by locals as Piazza del Papa, Piazza del Plebiscito is instantly recognizable for its elongated shape, slightly sloping layout, and the monumental presence of its buildings and artworks. Unlike many Italian squares that developed organically around a single monument, this piazza reflects a deliberate urban vision aimed at creating a representative space for the city’s institutions. The result is a square that feels both monumental and lived-in, formal yet deeply human. Today, Piazza del Plebiscito remains a lively gathering place where residents meet, students linger, and visitors pause to absorb the atmosphere of historic Ancona. Cafés, cultural venues, and historic palaces frame the square, while religious and civic architecture give it a sense of continuity and authority.     Short History of Piazza del Plebiscito The origins of Piazza del Plebiscito date back to the 15th century, when Ancona was a Read more [...]

Piazza del Popolo is the main public square in the historic center of Ravenna, serving as the city’s civic and social focal point for over seven centuries. Its name, which literally means “People’s Square”, reflects the evolution of Ravenna from medieval commune to modern city. Bordered by significant public buildings, historic palaces, and architectural landmarks, Piazza del Popolo is both a living space for locals and a must-visit destination for travelers exploring the artistic, political, and urban history of Ravenna. Situated at the crossroads of the city’s most important streets, the square has always been a place of public assembly, political power, and urban life. Today it continues to be a vibrant gathering spot, framed by cafés and places for social interaction, while preserving architectural elements that testify to successive periods of civic rule – from the Da Polenta lordship and the Venetian era to the Papal Legation of Romagna and Italy’s unification.   Short History of Piazza del Popolo The origins of Piazza del Popolo trace back to the late 13th century, when the noble Da Polenta family established itself as the dominant power in Ravenna. Around this period, the stretch of land in front of the residence of Read more [...]

Piazza Libertà, known also as Piazza dei Signori, is the main square of Bassano del Grappa, located in the historical center of the town. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and its harmonious blend of historical architecture, Piazza Libertà serves as a cultural and social hub, drawing both locals and tourists alike.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA LIBERTÀ The square was obtained by filling the moat that surrounded the second circle of walls of Bassano del Grappa, and it was called at first Piazza San Giovanni, from the name of the church built there in 1308. Starting with 1867, it was dedicated to Vittorio Emanuele II, King of Italy, and during the Second World War it was called Piazza del Popolo.   ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA LIBERTÀ The square is the nodal point of the city where the main streets of the centre converge. On the northern side of the square, there are prestigious buildings, including the houses of the ancient Remondini printing house and Loggia del Comune. On the southern side of the square, one can find the imposing facade of the Church of San Giovanni Battista. Commissioned by the de’ Biasi family, the church dates back to 1308 and was Read more [...]

Piazza Garibaldi is a square in Bassano del Grappa, located in the historical center of the town, adjacent to Piazza Libertà. The square was named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, a prominent Italian general and nationalist who played a significant role in the unification of Italy. Popularly, the square is also known as Piazza della Fontana, due to the Bonaguro Fountain (Fontana Bonaguro), located in its center, or Piazza delle Erbe, because for centuries the vegetable market was held there.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA GARIBALDI The current appearance of the square dates from 1776, when the architect Antonio Gaidon arranged it. In 1898, the arrival of a water pipe from the Fontanazzi springs that brought pure water right to the center of Bassano, represented an event of national importance. The event was then celebrated with the construction of the Bonaguro Fountain in the center of the square. The fountain was designed by the sculptor Carlo Spazzi, and named after the mayor Antonio Bonaguro, who donated it to the community on the occasion of the inauguration of the public aqueduct.   ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA GARIBALDI Piazza Garibaldi is overlooked, to the north, by the Civic Tower (Torre Civica), while to the south Read more [...]

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, commonly known by locals as Borgo, is the central square of Monopoli and one of the largest urban squares in both Apulia and southern Italy. It represents the main civic, social, and spatial reference point of the modern city, acting as a physical and symbolic link between the historic center and the newer urban districts. The square occupies a vast rectangular area immediately outside the medieval city walls, marking the transition from the compact historic core to the planned expansion developed from the late eighteenth century onward. Due to its size, central location, and historical significance, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II has long functioned as a gathering place for public events, political demonstrations, social life, and daily urban movement. Surrounded by important streets, commercial activities, cafés, and public buildings, the square plays a key role in the everyday life of Monopoli. Its open layout and tree-lined sections distinguish it from the narrow streets of the old town, offering a markedly different urban experience while remaining deeply connected to the city’s historical evolution.   Short History of Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II was created in 1796 at the behest of the King of Naples as Read more [...]

Piazza San Benedetto is a small square located in the historical center of Polignano a Mare. Unlike the bustling Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Piazza San Benedetto is less-traveled and exudes the tranquility and timeless beauty of this picturesque town. The square has a calm, almost contemplative ambiance that draws visitors who seek a quieter side of Italian life. Nearby cafes and small family-owned trattorias serve traditional Pugliese food, allowing visitors to enjoy regional dishes in a relaxed setting. Sampling a fresh espresso or a glass of local wine in the square feels like an authentic Italian experience, a way to immerse oneself in the local lifestyle.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA SAN BENEDETTO The square takes its name from the Benedictine order of monks, reflecting the area’s deep-rooted Christian heritage. Historically, the square and the structures surrounding it were central to the religious life of Polignano a Mare, especially in the medieval era.   ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA SAN BENEDETTO The square is framed by traditional whitewashed buildings with wrought-iron balconies, often adorned with colorful flower pots that add a touch of color to the scene. The square has the shape of a stylized amphitheater, with stands and benches, and hosts Read more [...]

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is a small picturesque square located in the historical center of Polignano a Mare. The square is a vibrant meeting place, where the people of Polignano gather for daily interactions, social events, and seasonal festivals. Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is home to a variety of cafes, gelaterias, and trattorias, where visitors can sample regional Pugliese delicacies, including the town’s famed focaccia, seafood dishes, and local wines.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA VITTORIO EMANUELE II Once a marketplace in the medieval village, the square has remained the social focal point of Polignano a Mare since ancient times. In the past, the square was known as Piazza dell’Orologio, due to the presence of Palazzo dell’Orologio in its northwestern corner. Later, the square was named after the first king of the United Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II.   ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA VITTORIO EMANUELE II In the northeastern corner of the square, there is the Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Chiesa Matrice Santa Maria Assunta), the former Cathedral of Polignano a Mare. In 1818, when the small diocese of Polignano was merged with that of Monopoli, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta became the mother church of the village. Inside are Read more [...]

Campo Sant’Angelo, known in Venetian dialect as Campo Sant’Anzolo, is a square in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere). The campo owes its name to the homonymous church that once stood there.   SHORT HISTORY OF CAMPO SANT’ANGELO Campo Sant’Angelo was once separated by Rio de Sant Anzolo, which currently delimits its southwestern side, by the Church of San Michele Arcangelo. The church was demolished at the beginning of the 19th century, in the wake of the Napoleonic suppression of Italian religious orders.   ARCHITECTURE OF CAMPO SANT’ANGELO Campo Sant’Angelo is a large square located about halfway between Campo Santo Stefano and the smaller Campo Manin. The square is overlooked by palaces of great historical-architectural importance. On its northwestern side, there is Palazzo Trevisan Pisani, also known as Palazzo Somachi, built in the 17th century for the Trevisan family and ceded later to the Pisani family. Adjacent to Palazzo Trevisan Pisani, we can find Palazzo Gritti, also known as Palazzo Gritti Morosini, built in the 16th century for the noble Gritti family. On the eastern part of the square, there is Palazzo Duodo a Sant’Angelo, built in the 15th century for the Duodo family and bought later by Read more [...]

Piazza Grande is the main square of Modena, located in the historical center of the city. The square, together with the Cathedral of Modena and the Ghirlandina Tower, was included in 1997 in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA GRANDE The residential nucleus of the medieval Modena was formed around the ancient cathedral of the city, starting with the 7th century. Towards the end of the 9th century, the bishop Leodoino fortified the city, and the oldest part of the current Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall) was built near the cathedral. In 1099, the construction of the new cathedral began and the square began to take shape. Its northern side was defined by the Cathedral, the western side by the Bishop’s Palace, and the eastern side by the Town Hall. In 1501, Modena was hit by an earthquake, and the merlons of the Town Hall fell. In 1580, the square was cleaned, and the paving was arranged with stones and bricks. At the beginning of the 17th century, a new building was built on the southern side of the square for the Residence of the Judges (Residentia dei Giudici). In the first half of the Read more [...]

Piazza Camillo Prampolini, also known as Piazza del Duomo, is one of the main squares of Reggio Emilia, located in the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA CAMILLO PRAMPOLINI The square was born during the Renaissance period, and was known as Piazza Grande (Large Square), in contrast to Piazza San Prospero, which was called Piazza Piccola (Small Square). In the 19th century, the square was named after Vittorio Emanuele II, and after 1945 it was unofficially dedicated to the socialist politician Camillo Prampolini.   ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA CAMILLO PRAMPOLINI The most important building in the square, located on its eastern side, is the Cathedral of Reggio Emilia, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. The Cathedral was built in Romanesque style starting with the 13th century. Its unfinished facade dates back to the 16th century. To the left of the Cathedral stands the Bishop’s Palace (Palazzo Vescovile) and the Baptistery built during the Middle Ages, which was later renovated and deprived of its main apse. On the northern side of the square stands Palazzo del Monte di Pietà, from which the Civic Tower (Torre Civica) with the clock rises. On the opposite side of the square, there Read more [...]

Piazze dei Teatri (Squares of Theaters) are a complex of squares and streets in Reggio Emilia, located in the northern part of the historical center of the city. The squares are overlooked by the three main theaters of Reggio Emilia – Teatro Romolo Valli, Teatro Ludovico Ariosto and Teatro Cavallerizza. Piazze dei Teatri are composed of the following squares – Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio 1960, located in front of the Romolo Valli Municipal Theater, and Piazza della Vittoria, located in front of the Ludovico Ariosto Theater.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZE DEI TEATRI From the beginning of the 19th century, the area underwent numerous transformations. Originally, the Cittadella Theater and the Ducal Palace overlooked this area. Both structures were demolished around the middle of the 19th century, and their place was taken by the Ludovico Ariosto Theater and the Romolo Valli Municipal Theater. The square in front of the Ariosto Theater, with the war memorial of the First World War, was the so-called Piazza d’Armi, renamed Piazza della Vittoria after 1918.   ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZE DEI TEATRI In the western part of Piazza della Vittoria, there is the Ludovico Ariosto Theater, built starting with 1878 on the remains of Read more [...]

Piazza Cavour is one of the most important and representative squares in Ancona, located in the eastern portion of the historical city center. Due to its strategic position, Piazza Cavour has long served as a key reference point within Ancona’s urban fabric. The square connects major streets, public institutions, and residential districts, acting as a hinge between different historical phases of the city’s expansion and modernization. The overall layout of Piazza Cavour reflects nineteenth-century urban planning ideals, emphasizing symmetry, wide open perspectives, and monumental surroundings. Unlike medieval squares, it was conceived as a modern civic space, designed to represent order, progress, and the political ambitions of a unified Italy.   Short History of Piazza Cavour In 1861, immediately after the unification of Italy, Ancona entered a period of significant urban transformation. Engineers Gabuzzi, De Bosis, Bianchi, and Daretti were commissioned to design an ambitious expansion plan intended to modernize the city and adapt it to its new national role. The goal of this plan was to restructure Ancona according to contemporary urban planning principles, improving circulation, creating representative public spaces, and extending the city beyond its historical limits. One of the most important elements of this vision was the creation Read more [...]

Piazza Tre Martiri is one of the main squares of Rimini, located in the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA TRE MARTIRI The square is located on the site of the ancient Roman forum of Ariminum, at the intersection between the cardo and the decumanus maximus (the main north-south and west-east oriented Roman roads). In the Middle Ages, the square was known as Piazza delle Erbe, due to the market held there. Piazza Tre Martiri was remodeled in the 16th century, when it assumed its current elliptical configuration with arcades. At the beginning of the century, the small temple dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua was built. In 1547, the structure with the Clock Tower (Torre dell’Orologio) was erected. The Column of Julius Caesar was placed in the square in 1555 to celebrate the allocution addressed by the Roman general to his soldiers after they crossed the Rubicon. At the beginning of the 17th century, behind the Temple of Saint Anthony of Padua, the Minims of San Francesco di Paola founded the Paolotti Church (Chiesa dei Paolotti), which was rebuilt in 1729. In 1921, Via IV Novembre and Via Giuseppe Garibaldi were enlarged, and Arco dei Read more [...]

Piazza Malatesta, once known as Piazza del Corso, is one of the main squares of Rimini, located in the northern part of the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA MALATESTA The square has medieval origins, and was attached to Piazza Cavour until the 17th century, when the public granary was built, and closed its eastern side. In the mid-19th century, the granary was replaced by the Vittorio Emanuele II Municipal Theater (Teatro Vittorio Emanuele II), today the Amintore Galli Theater (Teatro Amintore Galli). Most of the square was formerly occupied by the large moat of Castel Sismondo, filled in the 19th century. In the last decades, the square was used as a parking lot and market area. In 2015, a new renovation project started, which was completed in 2018, when the square returned to its Renaissance appearance.   ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA MALATESTA The square covers an area of about 11,000 square meters, in front of the magnificent Castel Sismondo. Castel Sismondo, located in the western part of the square, was built at the behest of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, starting with 1437, and completed about 15 years later. In the eastern side of Piazza Read more [...]

Piazza Cavour is the main square of Rimini, located in the northern part of the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA CAVOUR Piazza Cavour became the political and economic center of the city at the beginning of the 13th century, when it gained importance after the construction of Palazzo dell’Arengo. During the 16th century, the square was named Piazza del Comune (Town Square) or Piazza della Fontana (Fountain Square) and underwent important changes. The old Palazzo dell’Arengo was enlarged and joined to the new Palazzo Garampi, in a single large monumental complex, while the Palace of San Silvestro, which closed the square towards Corso d’Augusto, was completely demolished. Between 1615 and 1620, on the western side of the square, the public granary was built, replaced in the mid-19th century by the Vittorio Emanuele II Theater (Teatro Vittorio Emanuele II), today the Amintore Galli Theater (Teatro Amintore Galli).   ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA CAVOUR Three municipal buildings – Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo dell’Arengo and Palazzo Garampi, define the northern side of the square. Palazzo dell’Arengo was built starting with 1204, and it was the meeting place for the council of the people of Rimini. It has a loggia Read more [...]

Piazza Castello is the heart of the historical center of Turin, where the four main axes of the city converge – Via Garibaldi, Via Po, Via Roma and Via Pietro Micca.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA CASTELLO The square was born in the 1st century AD near the eastern entrance of the ancient Roman castrum of Julia Augusta Taurinorum. With the consolidation of the Savoy state, and the movement of the capital from Chambéry to Turin in 1563, a vast project of modernization of the city began. In 1583, Ascanio Vittozzi was called to design the shape of what will be the current square. The design envisaged an area of about 40,000 square meters. The existing medieval castle in the center of the square was modernized in 1605 and connected to the Bishop’s Palace by a wall. The wall was demolished in the early 19th century, during the Napoleonic occupation. Ascanio Vitozzi died in 1615 and the direction of the works passed to Carlo di Castellamonte, who, in 1619, had the porticoes built on the southern side of the square, due to the opening of Via Nuova, the current Via Roma. Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) was built starting with 1643, Read more [...]

Piazza Carlo Alberto is a pedestrianized square in the historical center of Turin, located between Via Cesare Battisti and Via Principe Amedeo.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA CARLO ALBERTO The square takes its name from the King of Sardinia Carlo Alberto I, son of Carlo Emanuele, Prince of Carignano. The princes of Carignano owned the palace of the same name, whose 19th-century facade overlooks the square. The area was reorganized between 1842 and 1859 by demolishing the surrounding walls and creating the square. In 2006, after long debates, Piazza Carlo Alberto became entirely pedestrian.   INTERESTING FACT: In the northern part of the square, on the third floor of a building on the corner of Via Cesare Battisti with Via Carlo Alberto, Friedrich Nietzsche lived between 1888 and 1889. There, he wrote The Antichrist, The Twilight of the Idols and Ecce Homo.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF PIAZZA CARLO ALBERTO On the western side of the square, there is Palazzo Carignano, commissioned in the second part of the 17th century by Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Carignano, to the architect Guarino Guarini. In 1831, Carlo Alberto became the King of Sardinia, and the palace was ceded to the State Read more [...]

Piazza San Carlo, nicknamed by the locals the living room of the city, is one of the most important squares in Turin. The square is located in the historical center of the city, bordered by Via Santa Teresa and Via Maria Vittoria to the north, and by Via Vittorio Alfieri and Via Giovanni Giolitti to the south. Via Roma, which passes through the center of the square, connects Piazza San Carlo with Piazza Castello, to the north, and with Piazza Carlo Felice, to the south.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA SAN CARLO When Turin became the capital of the Duchy of Savoy in 1563, it was decided to expand the city towards the south, creating the so-called Borgo Nuovo. The idea began to materialize in 1617, when the architect Carlo di Castellamonte was called to design both the Contrada Nuova, now Via Roma, and the current square. The works for the square began in 1618 and were completed in 1638. The square was inaugurated during the same year by Christine of France, widow of Vittorio Amedeo I, and named Piazza Reale (Royal Square). The perimeter arcades were built later, between 1643 and 1646. During this period, the square was used Read more [...]

Piazza della Repubblica is one of the main squares in Florence, located in the historic center of the city, within the UNESCO-listed area. The rectangular square measures about 75 meters by 100 meters, covers roughly 7,500 square meters, and stands around 250 meters from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The square is one of the clearest examples of how Florence changed between ancient times, the Middle Ages, and the late 19th century. Its modern appearance belongs mainly to the Risanamento, the large urban redevelopment that transformed the old central market area after Florence became capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Today, Piazza della Repubblica is a pedestrian and commercial space, bordered by historic cafés, hotels, shops, porticoes, and 19th-century buildings. It is crossed by central streets such as Via Roma, Via degli Speziali, Via degli Strozzi, Via dei Brunelleschi, Via Pellicceria, and Calimala.   Short History of Piazza della Repubblica The Roman Forum of Florentia Piazza della Repubblica has been connected with the center of Florence since Roman times. In ancient Florentia, this area corresponded to the Roman forum, the main public space where the city’s most important civic, commercial, and religious functions were concentrated. The Roman layout Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Piazza Santa Croce is a beautiful square in Florence, located in the eastern part of the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY On this area, in ancient times, there was an island formed by two arms of the Arno River. The Franciscans, who arrived in Florence around 1226, chose this isolated area for their settlement. Similarly to Piazza Santa Maria Novella, where the Dominicans settled, Piazza Santa Croce was born about a century later, to accommodate the crowds of faithful arriving on pilgrimage to the Basilica of Santa Croce. During the Renaissance, the rectangular shape of the square made it the ideal place for knightly jousting, games and popular competitions, such as Calcio Storico Fiorentino. In Piazza Santa Croce, took place the famous game of February 17, 1530, during the siege of the city. Around that time, the square was bordered by wooden barriers that permanently delimited the area destined for games. At the end of the 18th century, under the rule of Pietro Leopoldo, Grand Duke of Tuscany, the wooden barriers were replaced by stone pillars that can still be seen today.   ARCHITECTURE The most important building in Piazza Santa Croce is, Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Piazza Santa Maria Novella is a beautiful square in Florence, located in the western part of the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY The square was built starting with 1287 on the initiative of the Municipality of Florence, and completed around 1325. Later, the square became, thanks to its size, the setting for competitions such as Palio dei Cocchi (a race with carriages), established by Cosimo I in 1563. The two marble obelisks, works of Bartolomeo Ammannati, were erected around the same time. Closed to traffic in the late 1980s, the square was recently restylized, and a new pavement was added.   ARCHITECTURE The facade of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella dominates the square. Completed in Renaissance style by Leon Battista Alberti in 1470, at the behest of the wealthy merchant Giovanni Rucellai, the beautiful facade of the church can be admired from any point in the square. On the southern side of Piazza Santa Maria Novella, there is the loggia of the Hospital of Saint Paul (Ospedale di San Paolo), founded in the 13th century and enlarged in the 15th century, with the addition of a portico. Today, the building houses Museo Read more [...]

Piazza del Popolo (People’s Square) is a large square in Rome, located at the foot of the Pincian Hill, near the Villa Borghese gardens.   SHORT HISTORY Until the end of the 19th century, when it assumed its current shape, Piazza del Popolo was a modest square with a trapezoidal shape. At the time of the Napoleonic occupation, the architectural and urban aspect of the square was revised by the architect Giuseppe Valadier. Thanks to his intervention, the square assumed the current elliptical shape, completed by a double exedra, decorated with numerous fountains and statues. In 1818, Valadier removed the old fountain of Giacomo Della Porta, and replaced it with a new structure – four fountains in the form of lions, around the base of the obelisk. Valadier continued its work of renewal the square by arranging also the slopes of the Pincian Hill, connecting Piazza del Popolo and the hill with wide ramps, adorned by trees.   ARCHITECTURE Piazza del Popolo houses three churches. Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo is the oldest one, located next to the gate with the same name, Porta del Popolo. The church was built in the 11th century by Pope Pasquale II, but Read more [...]

Piazza Venezia is a beautiful square in Rome, located at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, between Piazza di San Marco, to the west, and Piazza della Madonna di Loreto, to the east. In the square, five of the most important streets of the city meet: Via dei Fori Imperiali, Via Cesare Battisti, Via del Corso, Via del Plebiscito, and Via del Teatro di Marcello.   SHORT HISTORY The current appearance of the square derives largely from the demolition and reconstruction interventions carried out between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, following the construction of the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II (Vittoriano). Originally, the square extended only in the western half of the current one, and Via del Corso started from its northeastern corner. The imposing Vittoriano required a wider space in front, and it was decided to enlarge Piazza Venezia and make it symmetrical to the axis of Via del Corso. The extension was designed in its general lines by Giuseppe Sacconi and then defined by Guido Cirilli. For this enlargement, the buildings present in the eastern part of the future square were demolished and Palazzo delle Assicurazioni Generali was built. Read more [...]

Piazza Trento e Trieste, formerly known as Piazza delle Erbe for the market held there in the past, is the main square of Ferrara.   SHORT HISTORY The medieval square appeared at the same time with the Cathedral of San Giorgio, in the 12th century, and since its inception it became the fulcrum of the political, economic and religious powers of the city.   ARCHITECTURE The square, rectangular in shape, is crossed by a sidewalk 120 meters long and 12 meters wide, called listone. Around the square, you can still admire various ancient buildings, some of them in their original appearance, while others have undergone various renovations and transformations over time. In the northern part of the square, there is the Cathedral of San Giorgio, the Cathedral of Ferrara, built starting with 1235 and completed in 1177. Behind the Cathedral, there is the bell-tower, an unfinished work of Leon Battista Alberti. On the southern side of the Cathedral, runs Loggia dei Merciai, which since the beginning was dedicated to the merchants and to their various shops. The structure still retains its function today, hosting modern shops and commercial activities. The ancient seat of the Shoemakers’ Guild, Palazzo di San Crispino, Read more [...]

Piazza del Municipio is one of the main squares of Ferrara, delimited by the wings of the Municipal Palace (Palazzo Municipale), located in the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY The current square housed once the Ducal Courtyard of the Municipal Palace, which was the first residence of the Este family. Subsequently, after the ducal family moved to the Este Castle, the palace was remodeled several times, until its current form. The square is famous for the imposing white marble staircase, built in 1481 to a design by Pietro Benvenuto degli Ordini, characterized by a vaulted roof with a central dome and arches in Renaissance style, with a marble balustrade decorated by medieval Gothic elements. Piazza del Municipio is often chosen as the venue for events such as the flag-wavers’ trials during the days preceding the Palio of Ferrara, and the farmer’s market with typical fresh products from the province of Ferrara.   ARCHITECTURE Piazza del Municipio can be accessed from Piazza Trento e Trieste through the main entrance of the Municipal Palace, called Volto del Cavallo (Vault of the Horse), consisting of a portico adorned on one side by the bronze statue of Borso d’Este, and on Read more [...]

Piazza Ariostea, formerly known as Piazza Nuova and, for a brief period, Piazza Napoleone, is one of the main squares of Ferrara, located in the northern part of the historical center of the city. On the last Sunday of May, the square hosts the Palio of Ferrara, established in 1279, resumed in the 1930s, and regularly held after the end of the Second World War. Palio di Ferrara is considered among the oldest in the world.   SHORT HISTORY Until 1496, the area was occupied by a farm owned by a certain Bartolomeo Zermio. Then, the land was purchased by Ercole I d’Este, the second duke of Ferrara, and transformed into a square, called Piazza Nuova. In the early 16th century, Duke Ercole I commissioned Ercole Grandi to design two columns for his own equestrian monument. On the way to Ferrara, one of the columns was lost in the Po River. The other one, which reached the town, was not immediately raised. The column was placed in the square only in 1675 to house the statue of Pope Alexander VII. In 1796, the French replaced the papal statue with a plaster statue depicting Liberty, which was demolished in 1799. In Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Piazza del Duomo is the main square of Milan, and the true commercial center of the city for the last seven centuries. The square is the meeting point of the Milanese to celebrate important events and, together with the adjacent Cathedral of Milan, a desired destination for tourists from all over the world.   SHORT HISTORY The birth of the square can be traced back to Azzone Visconti, Lord of Milan from 1329, who, in order to create a useful space for mercantile activities, created the Arengo Square between the Churches of Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Tecla. Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the first Duke of Milan, further enlarged the square, ordering the demolition of the bishop’s house in 1385, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni alle Fonti in 1387. In 1458, with the blessing of Pope Pius II, Francesco Sforza, the fourth Duke of Milan, obtained permission to demolish the Basilica of Santa Tecla to create a large square worthy of the Duomo, which, at that time, was under construction. In 1548, the architect Vincenzo Seregni created a new project for the Piazza del Duomo, but due to lack of funds, the only work that was Read more [...]

Piazza Vecchia (Old Square) is a beautiful square in Bergamo, located on the upper part of the city, known as Città Alta. For many centuries, the square was the fulcrum of the political and civil power of Bergamo, and today is a favorite meeting place for locals.   SHORT HISTORY Piazza Vecchia was built on the site of the ancient Roman forum of the city. Beginning with the 11th century, numerous dwellings were built on the square. In the 13th century, the reclamation of the area began, and the dwellings were demolished. The square became the city center only in the Middle Ages, more precisely in the 12th century, with the construction of Palazzo della Ragione, the seat of the Municipality. The buildings surrounding the square were built starting with the 15th century.   ARCHITECTURE To the north of the square, we can find Palazzo Nuovo, which houses the Angelo Mai Library. The palace was built to a design by the architect Vincenzo Scamozzi starting with the early 17th century and was completed only in 1958, with the placing of the last ornamental works on the facade. In the western part of the square, there is Palazzo del Podestà, built Read more [...]

Piazza Castello is one of the main squares of Vicenza, located in the western part of the historical center of the city, near the Salvi Gardens and Loggia Valmarana.   DESCRIPTION Piazza Castello hosts several Palladian palaces. The most important, located in the southern part of the square, is Palazzo Porto in Piazza Castello, also known as Porto Breganze, designed around 1571 by the architect Andrea Palladio for Alessandro Porto. In the northern part of Piazza Castello, we can find Palazzo Thiene Bonin Longare, another palace designed by Andrea Palladio presumably in 1572, and built by Vincenzo Scamozzi after the death of the architect. Other important buildings in the square are Palazzo Piovini and the medieval Tower of Porta Castello. The square also houses a statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi, made by Ettore Ferrari in 1887.   HOW TO GET THERE Piazza Castello is located about 500 meters away from the Vicenza railway station. The closest bus stop is right in the square, on the bus Lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10 and 18.

Piazza dei Signori is the main square of Vicenza, located in the historical center of the city. Originally a Roman forum and then a market, the square is best known today for the Basilica Palladiana, the grandiose work of Andrea Palladio. The square has a rectangular shape and is delimited to the southwest by the Palladian Basilica and the Bissara Tower, while on the opposite side we can find Loggia del Capitaniato and Palazzo del Monte di Pietà, which incorporates the beautiful Church of San Vincenzo.   SHORT HISTORY In antiquity, the area of Piazza dei Signori was the site of the Roman forum of Vicetia. Later, during the Middle Ages, the area was called Perònio, and was the center of the political, commercial and social life of the city. The oldest building in the square is the Bissara Tower (Torre Bissara), built in 1174 at the behest of the Bissara family, next to their palace. In the 13th century, the municipality of Vicenza bought both the palace and the tower. After escaping the terrible earthquake of January 25, 1348, the tower was raised around the middle of the 15th century, reaching its current height. Near the tower, stands the Read more [...]

Piazza della Signoria is the main square of Florence, located in the historical center of the city, about 400 meters away from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.   SHORT HISTORY It appears that the area of the square was populated since the Neolithic, and it constituted an important fulcrum of the city of Florentia during the Roman times. In the 4th century, a large Christian basilica was built here, which remained in use until the 7th century. In the 8th century, the basilica was replaced with a church dedicated to Santa Cecilia. The square began to take its present shape around the year 1268, when the houses of the Ghibellines that resided in the area were demolished by the Guelphs who won the Battle of Benevento. Only in 1385, the square was paved for the first time. During the same 14th century, Palazzo Vecchio and Loggia della Signoria were built, and the square became the center of the political life of the city. The interventions in the following centuries mainly concerned the sculptural decoration of the square, and culminated during the Grand Ducal period with the transformation of Loggia della Signoria into an open-air museum. The construction of Read more [...]

Piazza del Duomo is the main square of Trento, located in the historical center of the town. Over time, the square was named Piazza Grande, Piazza Comune, Piazza Italiana, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele III, and Piazza Cesare Battisti.   SHORT HISTORY The square appeared in medieval times, as an open area north of the Cathedral of San Vigilio. Until the 1970s, the transit of vehicles was allowed in the square, as well as parking. The area was subsequently pedestrianized. The lime tree near the Civic Tower, the only tree in the square, has a particular history. According to tradition, a first tree was planted at the beginning of the 19th century during the Napoleonic government of Trentino, inspired by the tree of freedom. At a certain point, the tree aged, and another was planted in its place. The current lime tree replaced the second tree in 1982.   ARCHITECTURE The square has a quadrangular shape, and is bounded to the south by the Cathedral of San Vigilio. The Cathedral, in Romanesque style, was buit starting with the 13th century on the ruins of an ancient Christian basilica. The eastern side of the square is formed by Palazzo Pretorio, currently housing the Read more [...]

Campo Santa Maria Formosa is one of the largest squares (campo) in Venice, located in the Castello district (sestiere). The name of the square comes from the Church of Santa Maria Formosa.   ARCHITECTURE The square is delimited by three canals – Santa Maria Formosa, Pestrin and Mondo Novo. In the square, there are many buildings of historical and architectural importance. In the northern part of the square, there is the Priuli Ruzzini Palace, built as the residence of the noble Ruzzini family in the late 16th century, on a project attributed to Bartolomeo Manopola. The palace, which was in a state of profound neglect at the beginning of the 21st century, was completely renovated and currently houses a hotel. Next, to the northeast, there is Palazzo Morosini del Pestrin, built in the 17th century at the behest of the patrician family of Morosini del Pestrin. Between 2001 and 2009, the second floor of the palace housed the Honorary Consulate of France and the Cultural Delegation of the French Embassy in Venice. To the east, we have the Donà Palaces (Palazzi Donà), three noble residences built between the 15th and 16th centuries for the Donà family. Currently, the buildings are Read more [...]

Piazza del Duomo is the main square of Acireale, located at the intersection of three important streets – Via Ruggero Settimo, Corso Umberto and Corso Savoia.   SHORT HISTORY In the 14th century, some families from the Aci Castello area moved further north, where the village of Acireale was born. The place where the people settled is the current Piazza del Duomo. In 1596, the square was enlarged, and some buildings were demolished. Several shops were built around the square, and Piazza del Duomo also became the central market of the town. The pavement of the square was changed in 2009. The work was entrusted to the architects Paolo Portoghesi and Vito Messina, and to the engineer Aldo Scaccianoce.   ARCHITECTURE The flooring of the square has a well-defined geometry, with concentric circles divided into 12 sectors for the first two rings and 24 sectors for the remaining ones. In the center of the square, there are six circles intertwined with each other according to a hexagonal geometry, with the coat of arms of Acireale in the center. To the north of the square, we can find the Cathedral of Acireale, dedicated to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Read more [...]

Piazza Castello, formerly known as Prato di Castello, is one of the most significant squares in the historical center of Mantua. The square is located inside the Ducal Palace, adjacent to the imposing Castello di San Giorgio, and is accessed from Piazza Sordello through a monumental entrance resembling a triumphal arch, frescoed on the inside, work of the architect Antonio Maria Viani.   SHORT HISTORY Piazza Castello was built in the 16th century by the architect Giovanni Battista Bertani, a pupil of Giulio Romano. Bertani was promoted after Romano’s death to the post of prefect of the ducal studio (chief architect) of the Gonzagas, a position he held between 1549 and 1576.   ARCHITECTURE The square is the largest open space inside the Palazzo Ducale complex, and is surrounded on three sides by elegant late 16th-century arcades, probably designed by Bertani, decorated with frescoed festoons of flowers and fruit. Besides the monumental entrance, Antonio Maria Viani is responsible also for the exedra in front of it, once the entrance to the St. Giorgio’s Castle. On the western side of the square, the only one without arcades, are the rooms of the ancient chancellery. To the south of the square, there Read more [...]

Piazza delle Erbe is one of the main squares in Mantua. Together with the nearby Piazza Sordello, Piazza delle Erbe was the center of the civil power of Mantua for about 800 hundred years.   SHORT HISTORY Piazza delle Erbe began to take shape towards the end of the 12th century, when a vast unpaved land on the eastern side of the Basilica of Sant’Andrea was used as a venue for the cattle market. The space in front of Via di Sant’Andrea, now Via Broletto, where shops were already built, was divided in two by Palazzo del Podesta, also known as Palazzo del Broletto, built in 1227. On the eastern side of the square, between Palazzo del Podesta and the Rotonda di San Lorenzo, Palazzo della Ragione was built around the middle of the 12th century. During the domination of the Bonacolsi and later of the Gonzagas, the administrative and political power center moved gradually from Piazza delle Erbe to the new Piazza San Pietro, now Piazza Sordello. In 1455, in the western corner of the square, the House of the Merchant Giovan Boniforte da Concorezzo was built, decorated in late Gothic style with Venetian terracotta. In the second half Read more [...]

Piazza Sordello is a beautiful square in Mantua, dedicated to the Mantuan troubadour of the 13th century, Sordello da Goito.   SHORT HISTORY The square was built in 1330, after the demolition of some old buildings located between two parallel streets that followed the urban design of the ancient Roman city. One street, Strada Magna, connected the Vault of San Pietro (Voltone di San Pietro) with the Cathedral, while the other street, Strata Sanctae Mariae Matris Domini, connected the church that gave its name to the Church of Santa Croce, later incorporated into the Ducal Palace. For centuries, Piazza di San Pietro, as it was known then, remained the center of Mantua’s political, social and religious life. In December 2006, the remains of mosaic-decorated floors of an imperial Roman villa were found in the southeast corner of Piazza Sordello. Currently, the archaeological site, awaiting new excavations, is contained in a structure so that it can be viewed by the public.   ARCHITECTURE Most of the buildings located in the square date back to the Middle Ages. To the north of the square, there is the Cathedral of San Pietro (Cattedrale di San Pietro), built between 1395 and 1401, and renovated Read more [...]

Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, also known as Piazza San Giacomo or Mercato Nuovo (New Market), is a beautiful square in Udine, located about 120 meters away from Piazza della Libertà and Loggia del Lionello.   SHORT HISTORY Piazza San Giacomo is the oldest square in Udine after Piazza della Libertà. The square appeared in the 13th century to house the new city market, hence the name Mercato Nuovo. After the Second World War, the square was named after the deputy Giacomo Matteotti, assassinated by Fascists in 1924. Until the 1980s, the square was a rather infamous area. Today, home to numerous bars and restaurants, Piazza Giacomo Matteotti is the heart of the nightlife in Udine and one of the busiest places in the city.   ARCHITECTURE The square is surrounded by buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. Some of the buildings are still embellished by frescoes with geometric and floral decorations. The central part of the square has a large base of stone blocks. In the center of the square, there is a fountain built in 1543 by the stonemason Mastro Cipriano, on a project by the famous architect Giovanni da Udine. Also in the square, we can find the Read more [...]