Piazza Mercantile (Merchant Square), Bari
Since medieval times, Ruga Francigena, the Pilgrims' Route leading to the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Bari, has originated from the area of Merchant Square (Piazza Mercantile). The square was connected to the port by the fortified Tower of Sant'Antonio, erected in 1440 by Prince Giovanni del Balzo Orsini.
The ruling family of Renaissance Italy, the House of Sforza, undertook urban renewal projects following the devastating fire and explosions of 1601. The square received a major overhaul. The Seat Palace (Palazzo Sedile) was quickly rebuilt with a bell tower and clock. A gate was opened to the Ferrarese Square, consolidating the business center of the city.
Journalist Lino Patruno compared Merchant Square to a model never "stopping winning our hearts as if it were for the first time." Historically, the square has been the commercial and political heart of the city. It is the home of the Seat Palace (Palazzo Sedile), the old Town Hall. Today, it is the meeting point of the people of Bari.
The Merchant Square is paved with stone. The Seat Palace, with its 16th-century Clock Tower, is the backdrop. The 16th-century Customs Palace (Palazzo della Dogana) caries the stone relief of the Sforza lion, reputed to ward off evil. The Baroque Fountain (Fontana Barocca), also known as the Pine Cone Fountain (Fontana della Pigna,) with its stem arising from a stone basin, has a relief of the Madonna.
The ruling family of Renaissance Italy, the House of Sforza, undertook urban renewal projects following the devastating fire and explosions of 1601. The square received a major overhaul. The Seat Palace (Palazzo Sedile) was quickly rebuilt with a bell tower and clock. A gate was opened to the Ferrarese Square, consolidating the business center of the city.
Journalist Lino Patruno compared Merchant Square to a model never "stopping winning our hearts as if it were for the first time." Historically, the square has been the commercial and political heart of the city. It is the home of the Seat Palace (Palazzo Sedile), the old Town Hall. Today, it is the meeting point of the people of Bari.
The Merchant Square is paved with stone. The Seat Palace, with its 16th-century Clock Tower, is the backdrop. The 16th-century Customs Palace (Palazzo della Dogana) caries the stone relief of the Sforza lion, reputed to ward off evil. The Baroque Fountain (Fontana Barocca), also known as the Pine Cone Fountain (Fontana della Pigna,) with its stem arising from a stone basin, has a relief of the Madonna.
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Piazza Mercantile (Merchant Square) on Map
Sight Name: Piazza Mercantile (Merchant Square)
Sight Location: Bari, Italy (See walking tours in Bari)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Bari, Italy (See walking tours in Bari)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Bari, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Bari
Creating your own self-guided walk in Bari is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Bari's Historical Buildings Walking Tour
One of the dicta usually attributed to an 18th-century German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is that "Architecture is the frozen music." To this, one can only add that it's the music of time, especially when it comes to places like Bari, where the intricate details and craftsmanship of historic buildings are a testament to the human ambition to leave a lasting impression and the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Bari Introduction Walking Tour
In the 3rd century BC, the Lapygian coastal city of "Barion" was colonized by Rome. Now called "Bari," it is located on the upper heel of the Italian boot in the region of Apulia. Bari has been referred to as the "California of the South of Italy."
The city is divided into sections called "quarters." The Old City Quarter is located on a peninsula in the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
The city is divided into sections called "quarters." The Old City Quarter is located on a peninsula in the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles