Piazza del Monte

Piazza del Monte is Reggio Emilia's oval civic square on the historic Via Emilia. Also dedicated to Cesare Battisti, it retains a name associated with the Palazzo del Monte di Pietà.

Why it matters

The square brings together buildings connected with communal government, charitable lending and aristocratic residence. The Palazzo del Monte served as the seat of the Comune before the early fifteenth century; the Monte di Pietà was installed there in 1494.

What to notice

The palace separates this square from Piazza Prampolini. Its tower clock dates to 1481 and is associated with Gianpaolo Ranieri; the facade also carries a geographical sundial of 1847. The thirteenth-century Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo and seventeenth-century Palazzo Bussetti give the square contrasting architectural faces.

Context and history

The Palazzo del Monte has medieval origins and acquired several functions beyond government and lending. A wooden theatre occupied its upper floor between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, linking the square to the city's early theatrical history. Afra and Tobia Scarpa rearranged the palace interiors in 1981–1985, adding a modern phase to this layered civic setting.