/ URBAN ARCHITECTURE
/ Piazza Cairoli, once “dei Cavoli”, later “della Berlina”
The square was laid out towards the mid 1500s, under the reign of Cosimo I de Medici, an idea of the superintendant Luca Martini. Work was carried out by Giovan Battista Cervelliera, already engaged in work on Pisa Cathedral. The old medieval…
/ Mura in via Nino Bixio e porta San Gilio
Some remains of the southern and western part of the 12th century city walls still stand on via Nino Bixio. There are three postern gates dating from the earliest period of this segment of walls in the southern part, while other more roughly…
/ Walls and Gate at Parlascio
The city gate and walls at Largo Parlascio were built in 1157 as part of the 4th construction lot of the medieval city walls. Porta Parlascio takes its name from a place-name probably of Longobard origin that indicated the north east area of the…
/ Logge di Banchi
Designed by Bernardo Buontalenti and built by Cosimo Pugliani, between 1603 and 1605, by will of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Ferdinando I de’Medici, the Logge di Banchi were the place of the wool and silk market, money changers’ stalls and the cereals…
/ Via S. Martino - Palazzi
Walking westwards along via San Martino you meet palazzo Bertolli Carranza. The original nucleus was a group of buildings constructed after 1195 by the Del Testa family, rich trades-people. The medieval tower houses were converted into a spacious…