The large area of today’s Cathedral Square occupies a significant portion of the main urban block that opens southeast of the cardo maximus of the city’s roman layout, within the perimeter of the first Roman urban circle (1st century BC), marking the expansion of the settlement from the original camp established by Julius Caesar, along the cardo maximus extending from the current Devil’s Bridge to Piazza Paolo Diacono and beyond.
In this area, between 1817 and 1947, the oldest archaeological finds were uncovered (remains of private houses) and, in the area of current Cathedral Square, beneath the Palazzo Pretorio (now housing the
National Archaeological Museum, located in the Palladian Palazzo dei Provveditori Veneti), remains initially attributed to a Roman basilica with two naves, possibly divided by rectangular-based columns and river cobble masonry, were discovered.
Today, the square features a large urban area with other important buildings, such as the Cathedral and the
Palazzo de Nordis, and immediately behind the Cathedral’s bell tower, the
Christian Museum and Cathedral Treasure.
Near the palace stands the city banner, approximately 27 meters high, placed here in 1740. The triangular base is made of Piasentina stone, surrounded by a bench and decorated at the corners with moldings.
