The Loggia dei Mercanti ("Merchants' Lodge") is a historical palace in

Ancona Ancona (, also ; ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region of central Italy, with a population of around 101,997 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona, homonymous province and of the region. The city is located northeast of Ro ...

central Italy Central Italy ( or ) is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), a first-level NUTS region with code ITI, and a European Parliament constituency. It has 11,704,312 inhabita ...

. The construction of the palace commenced in 1442 under the direction of architect Giovanni Pace, also known as Sodo, during a period of economic prosperity for Ancona. Situated near the port, which served as the trade hub of the mercantile republic during medieval times, the palace was intended to serve as a gathering place for traders. The building was restored in 1558–1561 after a fire, under the direction of Pellegrino Tibaldi, who also frescoed the central hall. The current façade was designed by the Dalmatian architect Giorgio da Sebenico, who worked to it in 1451 to 1459. It is divided into four vertical sections, topped by a

pinnacle A pinnacle is an architectural element originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire. It was main ...

. Each one has a statue, representing (from left), Hope, Fortitude, Justice and Charity. The two side sections have two stained glass, ogival windows. In the upper sectors are blind double mullioned windows and, in the centre, is an equestrian statue of the Roman emperor

Trajan Trajan ( ; born Marcus Ulpius Traianus, 18 September 53) was a Roman emperor from AD 98 to 117, remembered as the second of the Five Good Emperors of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. He was a philanthropic ruler and a successful soldier ...

. The Loggia was damaged by the Allied

bombings A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechanic ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, and was restored in the late 20th century. File:Paolo Monti - Servizio fotografico (Ancona, 1969) - BEIC 6331200.jpg, The statue of the civic coat of arms placed above the entrance, in a 1960s photo by Paolo Monti taken from the building in front of the Loggia.

Sources

* {{Coord, 43, 37, 11, N, 13, 30, 35, E, scale:10000, display=title Buildings and structures completed in 1459 Houses completed in the 15th century Buildings and structures in Ancona Palaces in Marche Gothic architecture in le Marche Loggias in Italy