Piazza Garibaldi is the square on the north side of Pisa‘s most famous bridge, the Ponte di Mezzo. It is dominated by the Casino dei Nobile. The statue standing in the middle of the square depicts the freedom fighter Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Piazza Garibaldi Pisa
Address, opening hours and entrance fee
The square is always open.
History and description
The Piazza Garibaldi was constructed where there is a bend in the river Arno. The square owes its current appearance to a new urban layout that took place in the 17th century.
The central and most striking building on the square is the Casino dei Nobili, built in the 18th century. It was commissioned by the friars of Nicosia and restored a few years ago. The emblem of the friars’ order can still be seen on the facade. Later the palace was used by the nobility of the city as a place of entertainment.
The two buildings on the side of the square were both hotels. The one on the left was the Grand Hotel de l’Arno, the one on the right the Hotel Europa.
The statue in the center of the square depicts Giuseppe Garibaldi and was placed there in 1892. The pedestal depicts events from the life of Garibaldi. These include the including the fall of Rome and the wound inflicted on Aspromonte, which was treated in Pisa itself. The sculptor was Ettore Ferrari. It was cast by the Roman Crescendri foundry.