Piazza Mercanti preserves a compact medieval civic center close to Milan’s cathedral. Its loggias, palace, and narrow passages once organized municipal government, justice, and trade, making the square a reminder that commerce and public authority shared the same urban space.
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The passageways and brick façades feel tucked away beside the broad modern square nearby, but Piazza Mercanti was once Milan’s central civic address. The square was laid out in 1228 as a new Broletto, or communal center, where city government and justice operated.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- Piazza Mercanti was laid out in 1228.
- Palazzo della Ragione was completed in 1233.
- The Loggia degli Osii was used for public proclamations.
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