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.
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