Loggia della Mercanzia, Gothic-Renaissance loggia near Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy
The Loggia della Mercanzia is a covered arcade with three broad arches supported by decorated columns, opening onto a key crossroads in Siena's center. Marble and stone cover the surfaces inside and out, with carved reliefs and statues filling nearly every available space.
The structure was built in the early decades of the 1400s as a trading center and seat of the merchants' guild. It reflects the growing power and wealth of traders who controlled Siena's economy and politics at that time.
The statues of saints and virtues displayed inside reflect how spiritual and moral values were woven into the daily life of medieval Siena.
The site sits at the intersection of several main streets in the city center and is easy to spot. You can discover it while walking through the medieval lanes or use it as an orientation point.
The reliefs inside show depictions of celebrated Romans and moral virtues created by different Renaissance artists. This program mixed classical examples with Christian values and was a bold artistic statement for its time.
Location: Siena
GPS coordinates: 43.31899,11.33124
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41
Siena is a Tuscan city built on three hills, where medieval streets wind between brick buildings and open onto piazzas. The shell-shaped Piazza del Campo hosts the Palio horse race twice a year and serves as the town's main gathering place. The Cathedral, with its black-and-white marble facade, stands on one of the highest points. From the top of Torre del Mangia, the city spreads out in all directions, with its terracotta rooftops and surrounding hills visible. Gothic and Renaissance architecture appears throughout the streets, in the form of palaces, churches, fountains and loggias. The Palazzo Pubblico contains frescoes and civic art, while the Pinacoteca Nazionale displays paintings from the Sienese School. The Biblioteca Piccolomini holds illuminated manuscripts. The Basilica of San Domenico rises on a hill, offering views across the rooftops. The Fortezza Medicea and the university botanical garden provide additional perspectives on the city and its landscape. Beyond the center, the Etruscan necropolis at Malignano, Villa di Geggiano with its gardens, and the Chianti sculpture park add to the range of places to explore.
Piazza del Campo
68 m
Torre del Mangia
110 m
Palazzo Pubblico
124 m
Fonte Gaia
44 m
Palazzo Tolomei
127 m
Palazzo Piccolomini
127 m
Palazzo Sansedoni, Siena
46 m
Cappella di Piazza
120 m
San Cristoforo, Siena
127 m
Museo Civico
115 m
Palazzo del Magnifico
150 m
Teatro dei Rozzi
76 m
Teatro Comunale dei Rinnovati
136 m
Archivio di Stato di Siena
141 m
Palazzo Patrizi
160 m
San Vigilio
162 m
Palazzo Chigi Zondadari
85 m
Palazzo Bichi Ruspoli, Siena
158 m
Castellare degli Ugurgieri
149 m
Palazzo Bindi Sergardi
117 m
Historic Centre of Siena
55 m
Palazzo Piccolomini-Clementini
182 m
Torre di Roccabruna
10 m
Sant’Antonio da Padova (Siena)
165 m
Torre delle Sette Seghinelle
82 m
San Niccolò in Sasso
168 m
Archivio e percorso storico dell'università di Siena
127 m
Palazzo Rinuccini
118 mReviews
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