Piazza del Popolo, Square in Ascoli Piceno, Italy

Piazza del Popolo is a rectangular square in the historic center of Ascoli Piceno, paved with light grey stone slabs arranged in long rows. The open space is framed by a portico with brick vaults and travertine columns on three sides, and by the facades of the Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo and the church of San Francesco.

The square took its current shape in the early 16th century, when governor Raniero de' Ranieri ordered the construction of porticoes on three sides to replace medieval houses. Over time, the square was also known as platea magna and delle scaje, the latter referring to the travertine chips left by stonecutters working on the church of San Francesco.

The square is the heart of Ascoli Piceno, where locals meet and stroll, and it hosts the city's main events, including the Carnival and the Quintana. The name comes from the Palazzo dei Capitani del Popolo, and the square is often called the city's drawing room.

The square is flat and easy to walk, with cafes and benches along the edges where you can sit and watch the life of the city. It is a good starting point for exploring the historic center, and you can reach it on foot from the main streets nearby.

The square's design follows Renaissance ideals of proportion, with a length about three times its width, and the porticoes were meant to support commerce. The merlons on the Palazzo dei Capitani were added later, giving the building a fortified look.