Piazza Maggiore

Piazza Maggiore is the civic and social centre of Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. The pedestrian square is bordered by the vast brick flank of the Basilica di San Petronio, the fortified Palazzo d'Accursio (the city hall), the arcaded Palazzo del Podesta with its Renaissance tower, and the Palazzo dei Banchi, whose frescoed arcade hides the entrance to the lanes of the Quadrilatero. On the north side, the adjoining Piazza del Nettuno holds Giambologna's bronze fountain. Visitors typically spend 30 to 60 minutes here, though many return several times, since nearly every walking route in the historic centre starts or ends at the square. What there is to do is mostly look and linger: admire the contrast between the pale stone of San Petronio's unfinished facade and the terracotta-red palazzi, step into the Biblioteca Salaborsa beneath Palazzo d'Accursio to see Roman and medieval remains through its glass floor, or sit on the basilica steps with a coffee as locals do. The Palazzo del Podesta arcade has a whispering-gallery effect: words spoken into one corner can be heard at the opposite corner. For photographs, the best vantage points are the steps of San Petronio looking toward the Palazzo d'Accursio, and the arch of the Podesta looking back at the basilica; the square reads best in the low light of early morning or at dusk when the buildings are lit. In summer the square hosts open-air cinema screenings, concerts and markets, and in December the area fills with Christmas stalls. Crowds are heaviest on weekend afternoons and during events, while early morning on a weekday is the calmest and most atmospheric time. The surrounding arcaded streets offer shade in summer and shelter in winter, and the square is a natural starting point for visits to the Due Torri, the Archiginnasio and the food shops of the Quadrilatero, all within a five-minute walk.