Piazza Vecchia, Square in Bergamo, Italy

Piazza Vecchia is a square in the upper part of Bergamo, Italy, with a nearly perfect rectangular shape. It is surrounded by buildings constructed from the 15th century onward and is connected to the adjacent Piazza del Duomo, forming the main monumental center of the city.

The square occupies the site of the old Roman forum and was once called platea magna nova. It became the city center in the Middle Ages with the construction of the Palazzo della Ragione in the 12th century, and later buildings gave it its current shape.

Locals often cross the square on their way to the market or to the library, and its arcades provide shelter on rainy days. The name 'Piazza Vecchia' simply means 'old square', a reminder of its long role as the heart of civic life in the upper city.

The square is easy to reach on foot from the upper city and serves as a natural starting point for exploring the surrounding lanes. It is best visited in the morning or late afternoon when the light is softer and the area is less crowded.

In 1511, the square was the scene of a public execution: a condemned man named de Rocha was hanged and burned, and the expense was submitted to the municipal administration. The documentation of this event is preserved in the Angelo Mai Library.