Piazza Arringo has been a place of power in Ascoli Piceno over the centuries and probably one of the town forums in Romain times. It owes its name to the popular assemblies held there in the Middle Ages, the “aringhi” or “arenghi”. Its rectangular perimeter is delimited by public and private buildings from different ages, still all perfectly blended with the local white stone: travertine.

The Cathedral of St. Emidius, the Baptistery of St. John, the Bishop’s Palace, Palazzo Panichi (now home to the State Archaeological Museum) and Palazzo dell’Arengo surround the square. In the Middle Ages, a large elm was planted in the middle of it, to symbolize the life of the town, and it was replaced every time it died. Under the tree, people discussion politics and justice.

iazza Arringo, was also the site where knightly tournaments, like Quintana and Giostra dell’ Anello (literally “The ring jousting tournament”) were held in medieval times, during the celebrations dedicated to the Patron Saint.

In 1882, a monument to King Victor Emmanuel II by Nicola Cantalamessa was placed here, and later moved to the public gardens of Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Two years later, in 1884, the two elliptical travertine fountains, embellished by Giorgio Paci’s bronze sea horses and putti, new inaugurated.

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AUTHOR: Lella Palumbi, expert in art history