Piazza Maggiore, Bologna

Piazza Maggiore, Bologna

At the heart of Bologna lies the beautiful and vibrant square of Piazza Maggiore, surrounded by historic buildings that transport you back to a medieval city.

At the heart of Bologna lies the beautiful and vibrant square of Piazza Maggiore, surrounded by historic buildings that transport you back to a medieval city. Dating back to the 13thcentury when it was laid out as an administrative and commercial hub, it retains its look from the 15thcentury. Known as platea Communis during those times, the square hosted one of Europe’s biggest open-air markets where merchants from all over the world converged for trade till the mid-19th century. It is surrounded by several important buildings –

• Palazzo d'Accursio or Palazzo Communale – functioned as the Town Hall till 2008, and is now home to the Civic Art Collection of paintings from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, Biblioteca Salaborsa, and the Museo Morandi
• Palazzo del Podestà – the first seat of the Podesta (chief magistrate)
• Basilica di San Petronio – seat of the Franciscan Friars
• Archiginnasio - first seat of the Bologna University and now home to the Municipal Library
• Palazzo dei Banchi – built for business by bankers and merchants in the 16thcentury
• Palazzo dei Notai – built in the 14thcentury as the seat of notaries.

The adjacent Piazza del Nettuno has the Fountain of Neptune at its centre, and the Palazzo Re Enzo to the east.