Piazza del Campo

About this place

Piazza del Campo is the main public space of the historic center of Siena, a city in Tuscany, Italy. Its name comes from the Italian word campanilismo, which translates to "local pride" and campanile "bell tower." The campo is regarded as one of Europe's greatest medieval squares. It is renowned worldwide for its beauty and architectural integrity. The Palazzo Pubblico and its Torre del Mangia, as well as various palazzi signorili, surround the scallop shell-shaped piazza. At the northwest edge is the Fonte Gaia. The twice-a-year horse race, Palio di Siena, is held around the edges of the piazza. Walk through the space as well as around its edges. The relationship between buildings, entrances and routes reveals how everyday life was organised, and why preserving a historic setting involves more than protecting individual monuments.