Piazza Maria Immacolata

Piazza Maria Immacolata, known locally as i Portici, is a curved, porticoed square in Martina Franca's historic centre. Its arcades form an elliptical line linking several noble palaces and connecting the square with the surrounding streets.

Why it matters

The portico gives the old town a distinctive urban form, linking Palazzo Fanelli and Palazzo Caramia on Via Cavour with Palazzo Marino Motolese beside Piazza Plebiscito. The municipality attributes the design to architect Davide Conversano and classifies the square and surrounding façades as a monumental complex.

What to notice

The arc of the portico is the square's defining feature. Its piers and vaults create a continuous covered frontage, while the surrounding palaces connect the curved gallery to the wider historic centre. The portico also served a commercial function, with market stalls once set beneath its arches.

Context and history

The piazza belongs to a later phase of Martina Franca's architectural development, following the town's eighteenth-century Baroque expansion. The municipality protects the square, arcades and adjoining façades as a single architectural ensemble.