Piazza Maggiore, Main square in Bologna, Italy
Piazza Maggiore is a 115-meter-long and 60-meter-wide square in the historic center of Bologna, surrounded by medieval and Renaissance buildings. The open space is bordered on one side by the unfinished facade of the Basilica San Petronio, while palaces and arcades line the other sides.
The square formed around 1200 by joining several smaller areas and became the political center of the city around 1550. Over time, its function shifted from a marketplace to a venue for assemblies and public ceremonies.
Locals gather on its pavement for street performances, student meetings, and evening walks that animate the space year-round. The name comes from the Latin maior, indicating that this has been the city's most important public space for centuries.
Several bus lines stop nearby and connect the square with other parts of the city. Cafés and restaurants under the arcades offer places to rest and watch the activity.
The facade of the basilica was originally planned to be clad in marble, but work stopped in the 16th century and never resumed. The exposed brick has since defined the appearance of the entire southern side of the square.
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