Piazza San Prospero, Renaissance square in central Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Piazza San Prospero is a square in Reggio Emilia centered on a large basilica surrounded by historic buildings and artworks. Six Renaissance marble lions frame the space, while an octagonal bell tower with shell-shaped decorative niches marks its skyline.
The square is named after the basilica of San Prospero, which stands on its remaining side with an octagonal bell tower. The six red marble lions on the church forecourt date from 1503 and were carved by the Reggio sculptor Gaspare Bigi. The square is also called Piazza Piccola and is linked to Piazza del Duomo, the Piazza Grande, by the porticoed street known as the Broletto.
Locals call the square Piazza Piccola, and it hosts the city's twice-weekly market on Tuesdays and Fridays. The six red marble lions on the church forecourt, carved by Gaspare Bigi in 1503, are the spot to look for. A porticoed street, the Broletto, links it to Piazza Grande, the cathedral square.
The square sits in the city center with multiple pedestrian paths leading to it from different directions, making arrival straightforward. Plan extra time to explore the basilica interior, which holds numerous artworks and architectural details worth examining closely.
The six red marble lions on the churchyard step date from 1503 and were carved by the Reggio sculptor Gaspare Bigi. They are the square's oldest fixed ornaments and give it its local nickname, Piazza Piccola, by which it is still known alongside the basilica's name.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,658 contributors worldwide.