The Piazza di Porta Ravegnana (originally Porta Ravennate) is a city square in the central of

Bologna Bologna ( , , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It is the List of cities in Italy, seventh most populous city in Italy, with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. Its M ...

, region of

Emilia-Romagna Emilia-Romagna (, , both , ; or ; ) is an Regions of Italy, administrative region of northern Italy, comprising the historical regions of Emilia (region), Emilia and Romagna. Its capital is Bologna. It has an area of , and a population of 4.4 m ...

, Italy. The Piazza, located some four blocks east of the

Piazza Maggiore Piazza Maggiore (''Piâza Mażåur'' in the Bolognese dialect, Bolognese language) is a central square in Bologna, region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, largely preserving its 15th century layout. The Northwest corner opens into Piazza del Nettuno wit ...

and

Cathedral of Bologna Bologna Cathedral (, ''Cattedrale di Bologna''), dedicated to Saint Peter, is the cathedral of Bologna in Italy, and the seat and the metropolitan cathedral of the Archbishop of Bologna. Most of the present building dates from the 17th century, w ...

, is the site of the Two Towers of Bologna.

History

The square was named for the presence nearby of the ancient city gate that led to the ''strada San Vitale'' leading to

Ravenna Ravenna ( ; , also ; ) is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century until its Fall of Rome, collapse in 476, after which ...

. During the Middle Ages, an important city market took place in this square.

Description

A number of major arteries converge in this square, including the Strada Maggiore, the Strada di Castiglione, via Zamboni (formerly Strada San Donato), and via de' Giudei. In addition to the towers, the square houses a 17th-century statue of St Petronius of Bologna, the patron saint of the town. Alongside the Piazza stands the church of Sants Bartolomeo and Gaetano and the Palazzo Strazzaroli, the palace of the ''Arte dei Drappieri'', i.e. the guild of the fabric merchants.Bologna Welcome
entry on Piazza.

References

Ravegnana {{EmiliaRomagna-geo-stub