Palazzo dei Banchi

Between 1407 and 1412, a loggia was built to bring order to the humble and very densely-constructed buildings of the market area facing the east side of Piazza Maggiore.
The rhythm of the arches set on octagonal pillars slows in the approach to the accesses to the two streets Via Pescherie Vecchie and Via Clavature. This solution, topped perhaps by an upper level finished with a crenellated cornice was, however, not considered to be sufficiently decorous when the Vicelegato Pierdonato Cesi commissioned Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, at that time the leading architect at the papal court, to build a façade aligned with Bologna's main square.
The works, which were carried out from 1565 to 1568, envisaged the realisation of a scenic backdrop in two parts: at the bottom, the lower part is continuous and links the arcades and the mezzanine, but also frames the two high arches that provide access to the market lanes; above, stone strips frame an upper level overlooking a long balcony, and its mezzanine.
The original design also included two clock towers and balconies that projected further out on the thoroughfares below, but they were not realised.