Piazza Cavour is one of the central squares of the historical center of Rimini.
The history of Cavour Square dates back to the Middle Ages, when it played an important role and was the center of city life. Over its long history, the square has changed several names, for example, it was previously called Municipal Square (Piazza del Comunali) or fountain. The square received its present name in 1862.
Currently, Piazza Cavour is considered one of the main historical squares of Rimini, perfectly reflecting the history of the city and absorbing the spirit of past centuries.
Piazza Cavour is located in the very center of Rimini, near the main road - Corso d'Augusto, connecting the Arch of Augustus with and conditionally cutting into two parts - eastern and western.
Attractions of Piazza Cavour in Rimini
In terms of attractions, Place Cavour is quite diverse. On one side of the square there are shops, cafes and an old fish market, and on the other, historical buildings dating from different eras are lined up, the construction of which was carried out from the 13th to the 19th centuries.
However, the architectural monuments located on Cavour Square look so harmonious that at first glance you cannot even say that their construction and the integrity of the square that we can see today took six, or even seven centuries.
The center of Place Cavour is decorated:
- monument to Pope Paul the fifth. The statue of Paul V was erected by the municipality of Rimini and unveiled in 1614. The statue itself was cast in 1613 by Sebastiano Sebastiani based on a design by Niccol Cordier.
An interesting historical fact is associated with this statue. During the invasion of Napoleon's troops, the townspeople, concerned about the fate of the monument, cut off the tiara and changed the tablet, so the sculpture was already dedicated to Saint Gaudenzio, the patron saint of the city of Rimini. The monument was subsequently returned to its original condition. Because of all this, many still speculate to this day about who the statue is actually dedicated to;
- fountain Cone or Pigna (Fontana della Pigna). The fountain was built in 1543 by Giovanni da Carrara. This fountain was the only source of drinking water in the city of Rimini until 1912. On Fontana you can see numerous commemorative plaques. In 1545, a statue of St. Paul was placed on the fountain, and in 1809 it was replaced with a Pinya (Pine Pine), as a symbol of the independence of the Roman Empire.
Architectural monuments on Place Cavour:
- Palazzo Garampi. The palace was built by the architect L. Carlucci in 1562 according to the design of Serlio. Damaged by an earthquake in 1672, the building was rebuilt again in 1687 by Francesco Garampi, in whose honor it received its current name. During the war, in 1944, the palazzo was dilapidated, after which it was completely restored;
- Palazzo del Arengo. The Roman-Gothic crenellated building was erected in 1204 for public meetings. The palace underwent repairs and restorations in 1562, 1672 and 1919-23. In times when justice was public, there was a stone on the porch of a building on which insolvent debtors were condemned to receive three strokes on their bare bottoms;
Next to the Arengo Palace (on the left side) is located Palazzo del Podesta. The palace was built around 1330 as a residence for the "Lords" of the city. The building underwent significant changes in the sixteenth century, and its current appearance dates back to restorations in the first decades of the twentieth century. On the ground floor you can see three Gothic front arches, where a rope was once hung from the central arch, intended for the public hanging of criminals. The roof of the building is decorated with battlements, below which there are five small windows;
- Teatro Galli, located on the southwestern side of the square, behind the monument to Paul the Fifth, was opened in 1857 by Giuseppe Verdi;
A separate element catches the eye old fish market (La Pescheria), located opposite the palaces. The Old Fish Market is one of the most picturesque and characteristic places in the city. The work of the Rimini architect Buonamitsi, it was built in 1747. There are fountains in the corners of the market where traders used to wash fish many years ago.
Piazza Cavour on the map of attractions in the historical center of Rimini
Piazza Cavour is the main square, the social and cultural center of the Italian city of Rimini. Here are located famous historical and architectural monuments of the city, dating back to different eras, but at the same time harmoniously fitting into a single architectural ensemble of the square. Piazza Cavour dates back to the times of the Roman Empire, and in the Middle Ages it became the political and commercial center of Rimini. In 1204, on the square, on the initiative of the mayor of the city, Mario de Caronese, the Arengo Palace (Palazzo dell "Arengo) was built - a majestic building in the Roman-Gothic style with powerful battlements, loophole windows and a large arched gallery. The Arengo Palace has long been considered a symbol of the free city of Rimini, in the Middle Ages, meetings of the City Council were held in the palazzo and justice was administered - notaries' offices were located on the ground floor, and in the center of the arched gallery there was a large stone on which malicious debtors were publicly flogged with rods. Over its long history, the palace was rebuilt several times, until the building was restored to its original appearance by the architect Gaspare Rastrelli in 1923. In 1334, the Podesta Palace (Palazzo del Podesta) or the Palace of the Headman was erected next to the Arengo Palace and served as the residence of the city ruler (podesta), elected by the citizens of Rimini. On the ground floor of the central facade of the building there is a covered gallery consisting of three Gothic arches. In the Middle Ages, during public executions, a gallows was installed in the central arch of the Podestà Palace. In 1562, according to the design of the architect Carducci, the Garampi Palace (Palazzo Garampi) was erected on Piazza Covur, which now houses the City Hall of Rimini. In 1672, the palace was completely destroyed during a strong earthquake. The restoration work was led by the architect Francesco Garampi, in whose honor the palace received its name. In the center of the square is the Pigna fountain, which means “Fir cone”. The fountain, built during the Roman Empire, was completely restored in 1543 by the architect Giovanni da Carrara. The fountain consists of three concentric circles made of white marble; on its top there is a marble cone - a symbol of the independence of the Roman Empire. The unique design of the fountain aroused the admiration of Leonardo da Vinci himself, who visited Rimini in 1502. Until 1912, when a central water supply system was built in Rimini, the Pigna fountain was the only source of drinking water in the city (you can still drink water from the fountain). In 1614, a monument to Pope Paul V was erected on the square, next to the fountain. The bronze statue of the pontiff was made by Sebastian Sebastiani according to the design of the sculptor Nicolo Cordieri. During the Napoleonic occupation, the townspeople, in order to save the monument from destruction, were forced to replace the tiara of Paul V with a miter and remove the inscription on the marble pedestal, disguising the sculpture as Saint Gaudentius, the patron saint of the city of Rimini. In 1890, the monument was restored to its previous form. On Piazza Covur there is also the Teatro Amintore Galli, built in 1854 according to the design of the architect Luigi Poletti in the neoclassical style. The grand opening of the theater in 1857 was attended by the great composer Giuseppe Verdi. During World War II, the theater was destroyed, only the façade of the building survived. For a long time, the theater stood in ruins; work on its restoration began in 2014 and continues to this day. Another attraction of Kovur Square is the old Fish Market, built in 1747 according to the design of the architect Francesco Buonamici. The market building has remained virtually unchanged; here and now you can see the stone counters of fish merchants, on which they laid out their goods back in the 18th century. In the mornings, except Sundays, you can buy the freshest seafood and all kinds of fish delicacies at the market. Kovur Square is noisy and crowded at any time of the day; there are always a lot of tourists and townspeople here - some stroll through the square, others relax, sitting on the steps of the palaces or at the Pigna fountain, others comfortably settle down in the numerous cafes and restaurants located on the square. In the summer, classical music concerts, theatrical performances, art exhibitions are held on Kovur Square, and on Sundays there is a flea market where you can buy both antiques and cheap souvenirs.
Piazza Cavour (Rimini, Italy) - description, history, location, reviews, photos and videos.
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There are many interesting architectural monuments in the main square of Rimini. The buildings that come here belong to different eras. But at the same time, they all look harmonious together.
There are three palaces on the square - the Palace of the Commons, the Starosta and the Medieval Assembly. The “communities” suffered the most. This building collapsed due to earthquakes and also during the bombing of World War II. Also worth noting is the “Pigna” or “Bump” fountain. It is made of white marble and has three levels in the idea of rings. At the top of the fountain there is a fir cone - this is a symbol of the independence of the Roman Empire. Until running water appeared in the city, “Shishka” was the only source of drinking water. By the way, drinkable water still flows here.
Not far from the fountain there is a monument to Pope Paul the Fifth. Although residents argue about who it is actually dedicated to. During the war with Napoleon, townspeople cut off the tiara at the monument and changed the sign, fearing for the fate of the Pope. So from the pontiff he turned into Saint Gaudentius, the patron saint of Rimini. Later, the monument was restored, but residents are still arguing about who is standing in front of the fountain.
Near the square there is one gastronomic attraction - the fish market. They have been trading here since the 18th century. Stone stalls of merchants are still preserved near the square. In the mornings, except Sundays, connoisseurs of fresh, delicious seafood come here. You can also buy good souvenirs at the market.
Address: Cavour Square, Rimini
, Podesta Palace , Garampi Palace , monument to Pope Paul V, fountain "Bump", not far - fish market. All buildings belong to different eras, starting from the 13th century. I studied here in house 24 Giovanni Pascoli (Giovanni Pascoli, 1855 - 1912), Italian poet and classical philologist.
In the 12th century, Rimini became a commune - a self-governing city, which entailed the organization of new authorities and, to carry out their activities, buildings were built on Piazza della Fontana, which had existed on this site since Roman times.
Later they appeared there Arengo Palace (Palazzo del Arengo) , Palazzo del Podesta (Palazzo del Podesta) , Garampi Palace(nowadays there is a municipality), and also Theater Communale And fountain "Bump"- they are all described separately. The square was called Piazza del Comune for a long time. In 1862, Piazza del Comune was renamed Piazza Cavour in honor of the politician and Italian patriot Camillo Paolo Filippo Giulio Benso, Count of Cavour, who was the first Minister of the Navy, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister of the united Kingdom of Italy.
The history of the “dad’s” monument on the square is noteworthy. In 1611, the Municipality of Rimini commissioned the Italian sculptor Nicolas Cordier to create a bronze sculpture of Pope Paul V. In November of the following year, the master died suddenly at the age of 45 without finishing the work. Sebastiano Sebastiani completed it using sketches made by Cordier, adding only reliefs on the chair and mantle of the pontiff, one of which depicts Rimini. The monument to Pope Paul V was erected in the center of the square in 1614 in front of the Teatro Communale.
At the end of the 18th century, during the war with Napoleon, the townspeople cut off the tiara at the monument and changed the sign, fearing for the fate of the Pope - Napoleon was persecuting the church. And they passed off their bronze “pope” as Saint Gaudenzio, the patron saint of Rimini. Later, the sculpture was restored to its original form, but some residents during this time became so accustomed to considering the Pope Gaudentius that this gives rise to controversy about the true purpose of the monument.
Next to the square there has been a fish market (Antica Pescheria) since the 18th century. The municipality of Rimini once announced a competition for the creation of a fish market project; fishermen participated in the financing of this project with the condition that they would definitely receive a trading place in this market.
In 1746, a native of Rimini, artist and architect Giovan Francesco Buonamici, began implementing his project, which was completed two years later. A Baroque façade appeared, behind which was a covered gallery of two parallel rows of arches supported on pillars with adjacent marble tabletops used as counters and four dolphin-shaped fountains. In the mornings, quite early and except on Sundays, it is open - here you can buy fresh delicious seafood, good souvenirs and even works of local artists.
In general, this is a very beautiful square, there are many benches around the perimeter where you can sit and relax. You can drink water from the fountain. This is a pedestrian zone, only police cars and taxi drivers enter here (so, in principle, you can call a taxi to the square). Pedestrian streets run in all directions from Place Cavour, where many shops, bars and restaurants are open until late in the evening. The square is always full of people, there are enough locals and tourists. On Square Cavour and on the square Temple of Malatesta and about Fortresses of Sismondo market days – Wednesday and Saturday, from 7.00 to 13.00. This market is held twice a week, occupying the space of all the surrounding streets, where you can find many interesting goods at lower prices than in stores. The assortment is like in a department store - from shoes and clothes to kitchen utensils and groceries. Every last Sunday of the month on Square Cavour(Piazza Cavour) hosts the largest monthly exhibition and sale of antiques and vintage: ceramics, glass, books, furniture, jewelry, silver, souvenirs and household goods - everything antique or precisely dated, from 8.00 to 19.00, closed in July and August. On Friday evenings from mid-June to mid-September at the same place Square Cavour, but in the evenings, from 18.00 to 24.00 - a traditional summer market: art, antiques, second-hand items, vintage, antique trinkets, collectibles.
The image of the square - precisely the image, but not the square itself - appears in Federico Fellini's film "Amarcord" (a peacock sitting on the snow-covered "Pine Cone" fountain). The film was not filmed in Rimini - it was all recreated in the pavilions of the Cinecittà film studio.
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Despite the fact that all the buildings located on Piazza Cavour in Rimini belong to different eras and architectural styles, together they create a single harmonious ensemble.
Excursion into history
This square appeared in the late Roman era.. Then it was an ordinary city square and it was called Fountain Square (Piazza della Fontana), and also Municipal. In ancient times, such open squares served as the socio-political, cultural and commercial center of the city.
Do you dream of visiting the famous one? We will tell you some interesting facts about this unusual place on our website!
Description of the attraction
All the main attractions are concentrated on Piazza Cavour, for which tourists visit Rimini. The main asset of the square is the palaces located on it, which have their own amazing history.
Palazzo Podesta was built back in the 14th century (more precisely, the 1330s). The palace served as the residence of the podesta (city mayor). The building is surrounded by a covered gallery with three arches.
It is noteworthy that one of these arches served as a place of public execution, namely, a gallows for criminals who were publicly executed in the square. Unlike other palaces on the square, Palazzo Podestà was significantly rebuilt in the 20th century and now bears little resemblance to its original appearance.
Palazzo Iustizia. The Palace of Justice has its own history, but a sad one. The author of this project is the architect Guglielmo Calderini. The travertine palace turned out to be elegant and majestic, but it was never destined to host court hearings within its walls.
Due to the soft soil, cracks appeared along the walls of the first floor in the first year after construction. Financing of the long-term construction was associated with scandals due to corruption. As a result, it was decided to preserve the building as an architectural monument, and build another one for the servants of Themis.
The facade of the palace overlooks the Tiber embankment, and behind the palace is Piazza Cavour.
Palazzo del Arengo was built at the dawn of the 13th century (1204-1205). Over the course of several centuries, it was rebuilt several times, which is why it became little similar to the building that was erected in the 13th century.
But in 1926, the architect Gasparo Rastrelli returned the building to its original appearance. The reconstruction began with the fact that during one of the earthquakes a layer of plaster fell off, exposing medieval masonry. Today, the Palazzo del Arengo building houses the city government.
The main decoration of a building is not even its architectural appearance, and the main hall of the palace - within its walls there is a famous work by one of the students of Giotto’s painting school called “The Last Judgment” (dating back to the 14th century). Today the administration of the city of Rimini is located here, and court sessions are held.
Palazzo Garampi (Town Hall). Today it houses the city municipality. The author of the architectural project is Carlucci. In the 17th century (1672), during an earthquake, the building was severely damaged, and the architect Francesco Garampi took on its restoration, as a result of which the palazzo was named after him.
The Church of the Evangelists stands out sharply from the rest of the buildings with its white color. The building with Gothic elements still retains the features of a Christian basilica. Built with funds from philanthropist Stewart Kennedy.
In the depths of Piazza Cavour is the Teatro Amintorre Galle. It was opened to the general public in July 1857; Giuseppe Verdi was present at the gala premiere, because his opera “Il Trovatore” was staged. During the Second World War, the theater was destroyed and stood broken for a very long time (only the central part of the facade survived). In 2014, specialists began its restoration, and work continues to this day.
Another attraction of Piazza is the Fish Market in Piazza Cavour in Rimini, designed by Giovanni Francesco Buonamitzi. For a long time, the Fish Market was the center of all city trade; caravans of traders flocked here and vigorous trading took place. The market served about a thousand visitors daily.
Today, young Italian artists exhibit their paintings within the walls of the Fish Market, and souvenir sellers actively praise their products to tourists. The market starts early in the morning, from 7-7.30 am. On Sundays you can buy the freshest seafood at the stone stalls.
Every last Sunday of the month, sales fairs are held here - you can find many interesting goods at reasonable prices: antiques, books, vintage items (ceramics, glass, jewelry). From June to mid-September there is a traditional summer market (from 18 to 22 hours).
At the beginning of the 17th century (1614), a monument to Pope Paul V was erected on the square. as a sign of gratitude to his contribution to the development of the city (the author of the project is the sculptor Niccolo Cordieri, the statue was cast by Sebastiano Sebastiani).
True, the origin of the monument is quite controversial. During the invasion of the city by Napoleon's troops, the townspeople secretly cut off the tiara from the monument to the Pope, fearing for the fate of the pontiff, and the figure on the pedestal was named Saint Gaudentius, who was the patron saint of Rimini.
After Napoleon retreated, the tiara was returned to the sculpture (1890), but disputes about who actually was the prototype for the monument still persist among townspeople.
The Pigna Fountain (“Pine Cone”) is the hallmark of Piazza Cavour, made by master Giovanni de Carrara from snow-white marble, has three tiers. The top is crowned with a marble cone (the cone is a symbol of the independence of the Roman Empire).
