Piazza Garibaldi (Piazza Maggiore)

Piazza Garibaldi, historically known as Piazza Maggiore, is Sulmona's principal civic square. The medieval aqueduct forms its distinctive western edge, while churches and arcaded buildings frame the open space at the centre of the historic town.

Why it matters

The square has long served as a setting for Sulmona's public life. Its arcades and adjoining monuments connect the city's medieval marketplace with later religious and civic architecture. It is also the setting for the Madonna che scappa, an Easter rite in which a statue of the Madonna crosses the square to meet the Risen Christ.

What to notice

The pointed arches of the medieval aqueduct create a strong rhythm along the western side. Across the square, the church of San Filippo Neri has a façade incorporating a portal transferred from the demolished church of Sant'Agostino. Arcaded ground floors along the surrounding buildings recall the square's commercial role.

Context and history

The square developed within the medieval city as a place for markets and civic gatherings. The aqueduct, built in 1256, supplied water and remains one of its defining features. San Filippo Neri was begun in 1677 and rebuilt after the 1706 earthquake. The Easter ceremony of the Madonna che scappa is documented from at least the mid-nineteenth century and continues to shape the square's cultural significance.