Piazza IV Novembre is the main square of Perugia, the hill city in Umbria, and the place where the old town gathers. The square is wide and uneven because five streets meet here. Its centre is the Fontana Maggiore, built between 1278 and 1280 and carved with scenes from the Bible, the months of the year and the founding of the city. The Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the Palazzo dei Priori face it, two Gothic buildings that show how the city grew over several centuries. Sit on the steps in the shade, look closely at the carvings, then walk into the old town.
The Fontana Maggiore
Nicola and Giovanni Pisano built the fountain between 1278 and 1280 to mark the completion of the medieval aqueduct. It served as a water source and as a carved record of the city.
Its panels show scenes from the Bible, the months of the year and the founding of Perugia. About fifty bas-reliefs show the daily work of ordinary people in the early Middle Ages, so the fountain is worth a close look rather than a quick photo.
The buildings around the square
The Cathedral of San Lorenzo stands on one side of the square. Medieval builders expanded it over several centuries, which is why its outline looks layered.
Across the square, the Palazzo dei Priori was the seat of government. On its north side is the Sala della Vaccara, a cross-vaulted hall built around 1339 on the site of the former church of San Severo. It housed the first municipal archive and has fresco segments of patron saints of trade and craft.
The Palazzo del Podestà, the former town hall, was built on this site between 1283 and 1292. A fire in 1329 damaged it, and it was rebuilt.
A square shaped by roads
The square is asymmetrical because five roads meet here. In the 10th century, the diocese of San Lorenzo moved to the new cathedral, and the square became the centre of political and religious life, led by the city's lord and its prior.
Some accounts link the site to Etruscan and Roman gatherings before the medieval square took shape. The name commemorates Italy's victory in the First World War.
The square is known locally as Piazza Grande.
Visiting and events
The square is open to the public at all hours. In the evening, people sit on the steps, chat and watch street performers. The square hosts concerts during the Umbria Jazz festival, and during the annual Eurochocolate festival it fills with chocolate stalls and visitors. One visit coincided with a street basketball event that drew a large crowd onto the steps at night.
The entrance and the parking lot are wheelchair accessible. Parking in the centre is paid, and the square is a short walk from it.
Häufige Fragen
How long do you need at Piazza IV Novembre?
Allow about an hour to see the fountain and the buildings around it.
Is the square open at night?
Yes, it is open 24 hours a day, and it is busy in the evening when people sit on the steps.
Is there parking near the square?
There is a paid parking lot. The square is a short walk from the central parking area.
Is the square accessible for wheelchair users?
The entrance and the parking lot are wheelchair accessible.
