Piazza San Marco and the Civic Tower

Piazza San Marco is the historic and institutional heart of Boretto, a place where history, art and tradition come together.
Here stand the two buildings that symbolise the town’s civil and religious authority: the Basilica of San Marco and the Town Hall, which incorporates the ancient Civic Tower, built between 1663 and 1723.

Inside the Town Hall, the Council Chamber is well worth a visit, adorned with elegant Art Nouveau frescoes by Marcello Nizzoli, one of the most important Italian artists and designers of the 20th century.
Born in Boretto in 1887, Nizzoli achieved international fame thanks to his extraordinary creations in the field of design, while these early frescoes offer a refined insight into his artistic sensibility, characterised by elegance, chromatic harmony and decorative flair.

The square is also home to the Winged Lion of San Marco, the symbol of the Most Serene Republic of Venice.
Donated to the community of Boretto in 1958, it commemorates the ancient trade links that bound the town to Venice, an important hub for trade along the River Po and into the Po Valley hinterland.

A stroll through Piazza San Marco means immersing yourself in the history of Boretto, amidst monumental architecture, works of art and reminders of a past that has helped shape the town’s identity.