Piazza della Repubblica

Piazza della Repubblica is a large square in Florence’s historic center, built on the site of the Roman forum. The Column of Abundance marks the forum’s former center, while a nineteenth-century triumphal arch and colonnades frame the square. An antique carousel, in place since the early 1900s, gives younger visitors a ride and a closer look at its painted scenes of Florence. Cafés including Gilli, Paszkowski and Le Giubbe Rosse line the piazza, where street musicians and performers may add to an evening stroll.

The square over the Roman forum

Piazza della Repubblica occupies the site of Florence’s Roman forum. Two of the settlement’s principal streets met here, and the square remained a central gathering place. The Column of Abundance marks the former forum’s center.

The piazza took its present form during the late nineteenth-century redevelopment of Florence, when the city was reshaped after serving as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1865 to 1871. That work enlarged the square and replaced the medieval market area. A triumphal arch and colonnades give the space its formal appearance.

The carousel and cafés

The antique carousel has been in the square since the early 1900s. Its wooden horses and carriages are decorated, and painted scenes of Florence run around its top. It is a straightforward stop for families with young children during a walk through the center.

Cafés around the piazza include Gilli, Paszkowski and Le Giubbe Rosse, all associated with the square’s café life. Street musicians and other performers may appear here, and the illuminated square is a pleasant place for an evening walk.