Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo is Cesena's principal civic square, shaped around 1400 under Andrea Malatesta and framed by the town hall, Rocchetta di Piazza and the Masini fountain.

Why it matters

The square concentrates Cesena's civic history in a single urban space. It was first known as Piazza Inferiore and later as Piazza Maggiore. The buildings around it—including the medieval Palazzo Municipale, the Rocchetta and Torrione del Nuti—reflect successive phases of civic power, while the fountain gives the square a distinctive centre.

What to notice

Domenico di Montevecchio carved the Masini fountain between 1586 and 1590 from Istrian stone to a design by Francesco Masini. Its sides bear the arms of Pope Sixtus V, local bishops and cardinals, and the city's three rampant lions. The Rocchetta di Piazza and its glazed Loggetta Veneziana close one side of the square; the tower is attributed to architect Matteo Nuti.

Context and history

Andrea Malatesta's work around 1400 helped define the square as the centre of the town. Its civic frame developed over several centuries through the construction of the communal palace, defensive structures and the fountain. The Loggetta Veneziana recalls a period of Venetian influence in Cesena's government. The buildings continue to define the historic centre's civic character.