Piazza Garibaldi

Piazza Garibaldi is a place where the history of Correggio is intertwined with the stories of the great figures of the past.
In 1882, the Town Council decided to name it after Giuseppe Garibaldi, to pay tribute to the memory of the general, who had passed away that very year.

The link with Garibaldi stems from a brief but significant stop he made on 27 September 1859 at the Albergo Posta, a building that overlooked the square and was demolished in 1959.
A marble plaque was subsequently erected to commemorate that event, and it still stands as a testament to the famous commander’s visit.
A marble plaque was subsequently erected to commemorate that event, and it still stands as a testament to the famous commander’s visit.

But the history of the square stretches back much further in time.
Enlarged during the late Middle Ages, it has accompanied the city’s growth and transformations over the centuries.
In 1507, Count Giberto, husband of the poet Veronica Gambara, enhanced the square with an elegant Renaissance well, which is now preserved in the courtyard of the Palazzo dei Principi.

A depiction of the town dating back to the 1630s already shows the square in its current form: a harmonious rectangular space, bordered on the eastern side by arcaded buildings and probably featuring a wooden structure used as a permanent market shelter.

Situated along the ancient route that linked the gates of Sant’Antonio and San Giovanni, leading towards Reggio Emilia and Modena, the square has always played a central role in city life.
Its unique balance of open spaces and arcades makes it, even today, a welcoming place, designed for people to meet, stroll and experience the city.