Piazza della Repubblica

Piazza della Repubblica was the site of the forum of Roman Florentia, the nucleus of its sociopolitical life. In the Middle Ages, the ancient meeting place became the most important marketplace in the city. It was clearly distinguished by the Piazza of the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore (the center of religious life) and the Piazza Della Signoria (the center of political life).

After the year 1000, most of the Artes (guilds) and corporations started building their headquarters around the square and the place became densely populated.

The free space became increasingly thinner with the greatest part of its surface covered by the tower houses, used both as workshops and houses. The need for more space led to the creation of the Loggia del Mercato Nuovo around 1550 and the renaming of the ancient square into Mercato Vecchio, the old market.

After being turned into a Jewish ghetto (part of it) during the 16th century and after many years of decay that followed, in 1880 an article in a local newspaper turned the spotlight on the unsanitary conditions and the decadence in the historic center around the old market.

That article managed to motivate the local authorities which laid a plan of new, broader squares and wide boulevards that would agree with the establishment of Florence as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (1865-1871).

The project of a new grand square was approved in 1885 and soon the properties were expropriated. Medieval towers and guild headquarters, several palazzi, houses, workshops and churches, two synagogues, and Vasari’s Loggia del Pesce were all torn down. This shocked many of the Florentines who opposed the radical transformation of such an integral historic district.

Despite the reactions, the demolitions proceeded and almost 6000 people had to be relocated. New elegant palaces rose on all sides along with a triumphal arch, the Arcone inspired by Florentine Renaissance architecture and bearing an inscription that translates into the ancient center of the city / restored from age-old squalor / to new life.

The Colonna dell’Abbondanza (Column of Abundance), a column created back in the 1400’s stands as the only unchanged element of the past, marking the center of the ancient Roman forum.

The grey sandstone statue of Dovizia (or Grande Abbondanza) stands on top created in the workshop of Giovanni Della Robbia (Florence 1469–1529/30 Florence) after an original by Donatello (Florence ca. 1386–1466 Florence).

Today the busy square is the venue of several historic Caffè as well as the Hard Rock Cafe and Hotel Savoy. It is also the venue of several open-air festivals, street artists, and a beautiful carousel.