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Italy is famous with its piazzas: every big city and any small town has its civic, religious, market squares. Even more than one of each. Yet, among thousands of unique Italian piazzas there is one really special: Piazza del Campo in Siena. This shell-shaped square that counts about 1 000 years of history is among the most remarkable urban open spaces conceived by Italian school of architecture.
Italy is famous with its piazzas: every big city and any small town has its civic, religious, market squares. Even more than one of each. Yet, among thousands of unique Italian piazzas there is one really special: Piazza del Campo in Siena. This shell-shaped square that counts about 1 000 years of history is among the most remarkable urban open spaces conceived by Italian school of architecture.
The characteristic concave form of Piazza del Campo was given by the necessity to collection rainwater running down from the surrounding hills in ancient times. In fact, initially, this square was not more than a reclaimed piece land.
Soon after, the open space at the center of small Siena gained the function of financial and commercial centers. The two activities, however, were strictly divided. Some claim that a wall was built to separate them better. Only in the 12th century the two were finally (re)united, while the priority was left to the market task.
In meantime, the piazza was enriched by Italian medieval architecture with Gothic influences: Palazzo Pubblico (1297-1310) and Torre Mangia (1325-1344) were erected on the margin of the square. During those years the piazza itself was modified too. It was symbolically divided into 9 sectors in memory of the Nine Lords who ruled the city from 1287 to 1355.
Later on, under the Medici in the 16th century, Piazza del Campo changed its function again. It officially became the setting for spectacular festivals and was opened up to the Palio, the famous horserace between teams from the different quarters of the city. However, Palio is not just a horserace. It is a culmination of ongoing rivalry and competition between the contrade of the city. Even nowadays twice a year Palio is held around the edges of the piazza. On the July, 2 and August, 16 Piazza del Campo hosts up to 30 000 spectators came to admire the event.
However, even for the rest of the year, Piazza del Campo stays the main stage of the city life. The concave amphitheater-like square is a great and hospitable urban space open to its inhabitants and guests of the city devised as a work of art that blends into the surrounding landscape. By @NovozhilovaM
Soon after, the open space at the center of small Siena gained the function of financial and commercial centers. The two activities, however, were strictly divided. Some claim that a wall was built to separate them better. Only in the 12th century the two were finally (re)united, while the priority was left to the market task.
In meantime, the piazza was enriched by Italian medieval architecture with Gothic influences: Palazzo Pubblico (1297-1310) and Torre Mangia (1325-1344) were erected on the margin of the square. During those years the piazza itself was modified too. It was symbolically divided into 9 sectors in memory of the Nine Lords who ruled the city from 1287 to 1355.
Later on, under the Medici in the 16th century, Piazza del Campo changed its function again. It officially became the setting for spectacular festivals and was opened up to the Palio, the famous horserace between teams from the different quarters of the city. However, Palio is not just a horserace. It is a culmination of ongoing rivalry and competition between the contrade of the city. Even nowadays twice a year Palio is held around the edges of the piazza. On the July, 2 and August, 16 Piazza del Campo hosts up to 30 000 spectators came to admire the event.
However, even for the rest of the year, Piazza del Campo stays the main stage of the city life. The concave amphitheater-like square is a great and hospitable urban space open to its inhabitants and guests of the city devised as a work of art that blends into the surrounding landscape. By @NovozhilovaM