The Piazza del Campo in Siena is considered the square of all squares, the ultimate European town square and is defined in lectures as an example of urban planning. You can find out all about the town square in Tuscany here.
The Piazza del Campo in Siena is considered the square of all squares, the ultimate European town square and is defined in lectures as an example of urban planning. You can find out all about the town square in Tuscany here.
Piazza del Campo is the center of the Italian city of Siena. It is one of the most important squares in Tuscany or even the whole of Italy. Piazza del Campo is famous for its semi-circular shell shape and impressive architecture. It is the political center of Siena and is home to the town hall, among other things.
The terrain of the Piazza del Campo is slightly sloping. The town hall is located at the lowest point and thus offers a neutral position between the hills of the city. The neighboring tower, Torre del Mangia, is relatively high and towers over the city. At the highest point of the piazza is the Fonte Gaia or “Fountain of Joy”. It marks the success of 1342, when Siena succeeded for the first time in transporting water to the city via a 25-kilometer-long pipeline.
The paving of the square is also remarkable. It is divided into nine segments to commemorate the former rule of the Nine in Italy. Long lines mark the segments.
Today, the piazza is not only an important political center and a pleasant place to spend time, but also the venue for the annual horse race in Siena. The so-called Palio de Siena takes place twice a year, on July 2 and August 16. 17 contrade compete against each other in one of the most difficult horse races in the world. This has been the most important cultural event in the city since the Middle Ages.
Piazza del Campo used to be a marshy area where rainwater drained away. A marketplace developed here in the early Middle Ages, as two main roads crossed here. This is how the Piazza del Mercato came into being. Presumably in 1193, the city that owned the land divided the square into two halves with a wall to allow better drainage.
Under the rule of the 24, which came to an end in 1270, the Piazza del Campo was particularly important for fairs and markets. It developed into a second city center. The other focal point was the cathedral and its square. Religious festivals took place there, while Il Campo was used for trade and secular celebrations.
The herringbone-like paving pattern of the piazza was completed in 1349. It was already in red brick at the time and contained the eight lines that divide the square into new sections. They all start from the central water drain in front of the town hall, the Palazzo Pubblico. The number 9 comes from the reign of the Nine (Noveschi), which lasted from 1292 to 1355. During this period, Siena experienced the height of its medieval splendor. But to this day, the square is the center of Siena’s public life.
In order to finance their public infrastructure works, the Noveschi invented the forerunner of the modern income tax. This consisted of property assessments and corresponding taxes. From 1320, they financed the development of the city in this way. Florence quickly followed suit. A monetary policy on loans, from which public debt developed, was also an innovation. This ultimately led to the founding of the state-owned bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which still exists today.
Today, the palazzi signorili or mansions around the square have standardized heights and facades. This was not the case in the past, but in recent decades there have been increasing attempts to make the piazza even more beautiful and harmonious.
Piazza del Campo is known as one of Europe’s most beautiful medieval squares. It is characterized by both its aesthetics and its architectural integrity. Often referred to simply as “Il Campo”, the square attracts both locals and tourists alike. This is partly due to the balance and curvature of the shell-shaped square. This harmoniously balances out the unevenness in the ground.
The surrounding buildings, stately palaces and the town hall, are also harmoniously coordinated. The square is only accessible to pedestrians. Narrow alleyways between the buildings lead to the Piazza del Campo. It rises about ten meters in total. The often sun-warmed ground invites you to sit down and enjoy the atmosphere.
The square is a communal center. Unlike other places in Italy, it does not have a church, but is all about politics. The paving has been in place since 1349. Historically and culturally significant events took place here even earlier: As early as 1260, the city’s population celebrated the victory against Florence here.
The importance of Piazza del Campo lies in the fact that it is entirely dedicated to the people of the city. This is where politics and society meet, where people celebrate and where you can admire the hustle and bustle. Added to this is the harmony that is underlined by the recurring tripartite division of the architecture.
By the way: a study on European city squares from the 21st century was published in 2021.
