Going down Corso Italia on the left you will find the Loggia designed by Vasari with its beautiful arches and ancient doors, which once gave access to the shops and boutiques along the square. Today, this area is home to several bars and restaurants that, during the summer and spring, have tables and chairs outside in the loggia, while in winter they become intimate and cozy corners where you can enjoy a privileged view of Piazza Grande.
This square, with its particular slope and a difference in height of at least 10 metres, was designed to channel rainwater. Built on the ruins of what many believed to be the ancient Roman forum, today it hosts the famous monthly antiques market and the renowned Giostra del Saracino, which takes place – instead – twice a year.
From the centre of the square you can admire not only Vasari’s loggia, the outline of some of the city’s medieval tower houses and the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici, but also the creative design of the back of the Pieve and a public fountain dating back to the 16th century.
