The Piazza di Corte is the main square in the historical center of Ariccia. It is flanked by the most important buildings of the city, the Santa Maria Assunta Church and the Palazzo Chigi. Several famous architects cooperated on its construction. The Via Appia runs straight through the square.
A brief history of the Piazza di Corte in Ariccia
Construction of the Piazza di Corte started in 1661. The main architects of the square and of most of the surrounding buildings were Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Carlo Fontana.
In order to construct the square, several existing buildings needed to be destroyed.
The two fountains adorning the square were also designed by Bernini. The mountains and star crowning the fountains are symbols of the Chigi family.
The people behind the construction of the square were the influential Chigi family. The most important member of this family was Pope Alexander VII. Three nephews of the Pope had bought the fiefdom of Ariccia from Cardinal Savelli. This was the beginning of a period of great prosperity for the city.
In those days, Gian Lorenzo Bernini was more or less the house architect of the Pope. He was therefore given the job of designing the square, the fountains, the Palazzo Chigi and the Santa Maria Assunta Church. He got several other well-known architects to assist him.
The enormous bridge close to the Piazza di Corte was not designed by Bernini, however.
What to see
The main buildings on the square are the Palazzo Chigi and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Both are designed by Bernini, as are the twin fountains. The Locanda Martorelli, which houses the Museum of the Grand Tour, is on the east side of the square.
The last point of interest is the Fontana delle Tre Cannelle, also on the east side. Originally constructed in 1614, by the Savelli, this fountain was later reconstructed by Bernini. Attached to the wall above the fountain, you can see a fragment of what the plaque claims to have been the sarcophagus of Simon Magus. Simon Magus was a Biblical figure, who claimed to have godlike powers. He was levitating above the Roman Forum, when St. Peter prayed to God to put an end to this nonsense. Simon crashed to the earth, and was brought to Ariccia, to be buried in what is now the park of the Palazzo Chigi.
Curiosities
After Bernini had designed the fountains for the Piazza di Corte, he made a similar one for the main square of Rocca di Papa. This is now called Piazza Garibaldi, but at the time had another name.