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.
Location: Bologna
Inception: 16 century
Length: 115 m
Width: 60 m
Address: piazza Maggiore ‒ Bologna (BO)
GPS coordinates: 44.49373,11.34306
Latest update: December 6, 2025 11:00
Bologna offers many photography subjects, from medieval towers to Renaissance palaces. The covered arcades stretch for miles, connecting squares, churches, and historic buildings. The Neptune Fountain stands beside Piazza Maggiore, the heart of the city. The Two Towers rise above the streets and have been landmarks for centuries. Santo Stefano Basilica consists of several connected churches, while the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca sits on a hill, reached by one of the longest porticoes in the world. The university district shows buildings from medieval and Renaissance periods, including the Archiginnasio with its anatomical theater. The botanical garden provides a quiet green space, and parks like Giardini Margherita and Montagnola Park offer places to rest. Smaller discoveries like the window on Via Piella give views of the Moline canal. Palaces, libraries, and museums complete the photographic range of this city that has kept its historic character.
San Petronio Basilica
43 m
Fountain of Neptune, Bologna
64 m
Palazzo d'Accursio
58 m
Palazzo Re Enzo
72 m
Palazzo del Podestà
44 m
Archeological Civic Museum of Bologna
96 m
Palazzo dei Banchi
72 m
Porta Magna - San Petronio
49 m
Palazzo dei Notai
53 m
Sala Borsa
107 m
Farnese room
78 m
Torre dell'Orologio
70 m
Apollino by Antonio Canova
69 m
Bologna City Art Collections
54 m
Lambertini tower
77 m
Palazzo D' Accursio comunale
67 m
Palazzo Ronzani
123 m
Diocesan Museum of San Petronio in Bologna
70 m
Sala Urbana
69 m
Torre dell'Arengo
47 m
Museo della sanità e dell'assistenza
114 m
Palazzo Galvani
104 m
Voltone del Podestà
50 m
Portici di via Indipendenza
25 m
Formelle del Portico del Podestà
30 m
Biblioteca del museo civico archeologico di Bologna
87 m
Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo e Torre dei Lambertini
75 m
Cappella di Santa Maria dei Carcerati in Palazzo Re Enzo
86 mReviews
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