Piazza Garibaldi in Senigallia was recently inaugurated after a major transformation which has returned it to its original state. This included restoring the buildings overlooking it, felling several diseased trees, and installing new paving and lighting with Neri Nashira system lamp posts with 'Light 600'.

A marvellous, metaphysical space, reminiscent of the famous iconic Renaissance city located in Urbino, a few kilometres away, and the De Chirico squares.

A heritage left hidden in the past by vegetation and by the perception of this place as a car park. It is easy to find people who are discovering the incredible beauty of these historic buildings for the first time, with the pleasant feeling of finally being able to take back an entirely redeveloped space that perhaps they did not even know existed.

Commissioned by Pope Benedict XIV, the square was built in the mid-18th Century to create more space for the great International Trade Fair for which Senigallia was famous. During the 15 day-long Fair at the end of August, the city’s 6,000 inhabitants increased to 30,000. To protect the merchants who were its life and soul, in the 18th Century, Senigallia had numerous foreign Consulates. Austria, Denmark, Prussia, Switzerland, Belgium, France, England, Turkey and other states were all diplomatically represented.

In exchange for a small obol, the noblemen who decided to move to the city were freely offered land to build their own palaces, provided they were built within 10 years and the noblemen given a place on the city council. This was one of the highest points in Senigallia’s history and many of the buildings in Piazza Garibaldi were built during that period.

On the western side of the square stands the Cattedrale , a classic Latin cross basilica with three naves. Its façade was commissioned in the 19th century by Pope Pius IX of Senigallia.

Also framing the square is the exquisite porticoed façade of Palazzo Micciarelli, known as La Filanda – the spinning mill – where generations of women and children painstakingly worked the silk.

Opposite the Cattedrale is the Auditorium San Rocco.

Beside the Auditorium San Rocco is the majestic façade of the building that houses the Fagnani School, in which there is a votive chapel commemorating the Fallen of the Great War.

Next to the Cathedral stands the stunning Palazzo Vescovile, home to the Diocesan Gallery of Sacred Art.

Lastly, the square is completed to the south-east by the former Collegio Pio IX.