Piazza del Popolo
Piazza del Popolo is the main square of Ravenna, hosting a wide range of events and happenings. The birth of this space dates back to the second half of the 13th century and coincides with the taking of the city by the Da Polenta family.
The name of the square is of fairly recent origin. It was originally named after King Victor Emmanuel II, but following the 1946 referendum and the end of the monarchy in Italy, it was renamed Piazza del Popolo.
The square must have looked quite different in the past. First of all, the waters of the Padenna canal used to flow close to the square, which was later diverted due to the floods that plagued the city. Moreover, during Venetian rule Piazza del Popolo was further altered; the only thing that did not change was its size, which has remained unchanged since the 14th century.
Piazza del Popolo and Venetian rule
When the Venetians started the square's renovation project they were inspired by what they knew best, namely
St Mark's Square in Venice. That is why in 1483 they placed
two columns on one side of the square, still in the same place today, which recall the Venetian columns overlooking the Grand Canal.
On top of the columns they placed the
statue of St Apollinaris, the city's patron saint, on one side and the Lion of St Mark on the other. However, the latter was removed in 1509, the year Ravenna came under papal rule. Pope Julius II decided to remove the lion and replace it with a
statue of San Vitale, a martyr of Ravenna origin.
What to see in Piazza del Popolo
Several important buildings overlook Piazza del Popolo. On the side opposite the two columns we see the former headquarters of the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, connected by an archway to the Prefecture building. The design of this building is the work of architect Camillo Morigia, the same architect who is also responsible for
Dante's Tomb. Standing under the volton, exactly in the middle, and with our back to the square, we can see the neoclassical temple designed by Morigia.
Opposite the Prefecture stands the Palazzo dei Rasponi del Sale, now housing a bank. Finally, the building we can see behind the columns is the
Palazzo Comunale, recognisable by its façade decorated with merlons, dating back to 1681. The palace was built on the remains of the
former residence of the Da Polenta family, as can still be seen by the entrance staircase, probably constructed in the early 15th century, the vault and the decorative pine cone.
