San Pier Maggiore in Firenze

The loggia in front of the façade still defines this space. Residential buildings now occupy part of the old religious site's footprint, with some aligned along Via di San Pier Maggiore. That street opens toward the church's central nave and is reached through what was the central arch of Matteo Nigetti's loggia. The square has a popular, possibly still partly market-linked feel, with plenty of shops, trattorias and places to meet. Its name recalls the ancient Church of San Pietro, often called Piero in Tuscany, which once overlooked the piazza. The gate on this side of the city, part of the penultimate circle of walls, took its name from the church too. Along with its Benedictine convent, the church was among Florence's most important for its size and art. It was consecrated in 1067, making it one of the city's oldest. Luca degli Albizi's generosity funded a renovation designed by Matteo Nigetti in 1638, but the building was demolished in 1783 after being judged unsafe. Giuseppe Zocchi's well-known 1744 engraving records the church's original view over the square and the character of the space.

A sweet little town square, with cafés and food stalls.