Piazza Pia

Piazza Pia is an open civic space beside the cathedral of San Pancrazio in Albano Laziale. Its relationship with the cathedral quarter and nearby episcopal buildings gives it a strong religious and public character.

Why it matters

The square connects monumental architecture with the life of the town. Its broad paved area provides a contrast to the more enclosed streets around the cathedral.

What to notice

The cathedral's facade and long flank establish a substantial architectural presence. Its classical orders belong to later rebuilding rather than to the earliest church. Nearby Palazzo Lercari adds an eighteenth-century episcopal residence to the wider setting.

Context and history

The square was formerly known as Piazza Luigi Sabatini. Its history is closely tied to successive changes in the cathedral and the surrounding ecclesiastical buildings. Eighteenth-century work shaped much of their appearance, followed by important cathedral restoration completed in 1913. The resulting ensemble combines the history of the bishop's seat with the town's public space.