Piazza dell'Obelisco

Piazza dell'Obelisco is Tagliacozzo's historic civic square, an elongated space enclosed by patrician houses. Its central fountain, built in 1823–1825, gives the piazza its name.

Why it matters

The square developed as a market place and was gradually reshaped by noble residences. Traces of former porticoes survive within later buildings, recording the transformation of a commercial space into an architectural centre of civic life.

What to notice

The fountain rises from an octagonal basin, with volutes supporting its sculptural base and a lily and cross crowning the obelisk. Its inscription honours Saint Anthony of Padua. Casa Amicacci preserves late-Gothic two-light windows and a loggia; a damaged coat of arms is associated with the Orsini. Palazzo Rota and Palazzo Mastroddi add further layers to the enclosing facades.

Context and history

Formerly called Piazza da' Piedi, the square took shape during the town's late medieval commercial development. Houses on narrow plots were enlarged and refaced over time. Closure of much of the surrounding arcade in the early nineteenth century changed its appearance. The new fountain replaced the older stone feature known as the pilozzo, completing another stage in the square's transformation.