An oval square born on the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre
Walk through one of the low archways off Via Fillungo and you find yourself in a perfectly elliptical square, surrounded by a continuous ring of houses in shades of yellow and ochre. Its shape is that of the Roman amphitheatre of the second century AD, whose stones were gradually reused and incorporated into houses during the Middle Ages.
For centuries the arena was filled with warehouses, stables and even a prison. In 1830 the architect Lorenzo Nottolini cleared the centre and created the square as we see it today. In the outer streets you can still spot arches and blocks of the ancient building embedded in the walls.
Tip: the square is lined with cafés and restaurants; for a free view from above, climb the nearby Torre Guinigi. Via Fillungo, the city's elegant shopping street, starts right next to it.
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