Piazza dei Signori

Piazza dei Signori is the most important place in the city, a monumental centre rich in history. The piazza probably stands on the site of a Roman forum, as the "cardus maximus" of the Roman street plan, descending from Corso Palladio to arrive at Ponte San Paolo and crossing the middle of the city on the way out.
In the Middle Ages it was the "peronium", the political and social heart of the commune, the place where the most important public buildings stood. Among these were the Palatium Vetus and the Palatium Communis later unified into Palazzo della Ragione and then transformed with Palladio's loggias.
Proceeding along the south flank, dominating the square there stands the tower of the same name, also known as "dei Bissari", after the name of the first owners; this is now official council buildings, completely rebuilt after the bombing of the Second World War.
On the north side of the square, in front of the Basilica, we find the Loggia del Capitanio and the Monte di Pietà with the Church of San Vincenzo.
To the east stand the columns of the Venetian Lion (1464) and the Redentore (1640).
The square joins from the south-eastern flank with Piazza Biade and to the south-west with Piazzetta Palladio.