Hotels in Piacenza
What to see by foot: Piacenza
 
Piacenza is a fine old city on the River Po, full of distinguished medieval
and Renaissance buildings, including the 13th century red-brick Palazzo del
Comune on Piazza dei Cavalli, the main square.
Piazza dei Cavalli marks the centre of town, and gets its name from the two
famous bronze equestrian statues, one on each side of the square, often quoted
as being among the finest examples of Baroque sculpture. Cast in the early part
of the 17th century by Francesco Mochi, a pupil of Giambologna, they're impressive
works, convincingly poised for action.
Behind the Palazzo de Comune, Il Gotico, is a fine red-brick palace, built
in 1280. It's an elegant example of Lombard-Gothic architecture, and is topped
by fishtail battlements. The church of San Francesco, just off the square, dates
from the same period and sports an imposing Gothic interior.
West of here, back towards the train station, the main shopping street of Via
XX Settembre leads down to the Duomo, a grand Lombard-Romanesque church that
has been altered many times since it was built between 1122 and 1233. The interior
is lovely, with a high, plain nave supported by stout columns and cupola decorated
with frescoes by Guercino.
From the Duomo, follow Via Chiapponi up to the church of San Antonino, known
as Il Paradiso for the 12th century bas-reliefs on its portal. Beyond, a couple
of minutes walk away from here on Via San Siro is the Galleria Ricci-Oddi, with
its collection of 19th century Italian art.
The other place to visit in Piacenza is the Museo Civico (open Tuesday to Sunday).
It holds displays of Romanesque and later sculpture; roomfuls of armour and
weapons; as well as lots of paintings, including a depiction of the Madonna
and Child with John the Baptist by Botticelli.
The Museo Civico is also home to the Fegato di Piacenza. Very much the star
exhibit of the museum, this is a bronze Etruscan representation of a sliced
sheep's liver, marked with the names of Etruscan deities that were used to divine
the future.
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