Middle Ages It was believed that it was located at the same place as the
forum of the antique
Portus Pisanus, the harbor of Pisa in Roman age, although that was not proven by any archaeological discovery. The square, known as
Square of the seven streets (Piazza delle sette vie) was the political heart of the city, where the Pisans used to discuss their problems or celebrate their victories. After 1140, the square become the center of Pisa
Comune, with construction of buildings belonging to several municipalities and magistrates, as well as several churches. After the victory of the People of Pisa (Popolo Pisano) in 1254, the
Palace of the People and the Elders (Palazzo del Popolo e degli Anziani) was built on the square by joining some pre-existent buildings. The
Captain of the People (Capitano del Popolo) was housed in the near
Clock Palace (since 1357), which incorporated some previous existing towers. The southern part of the square was rebuilt with offices, law courts and the residence of the
Podestà. There was also the church of Saint Sebastian
alle Fabbriche Maggiori, destroyed by Vasari. The church, that was standing there at least since 1074, took the name by the offices of the blacksmiths (
fabbri in Italian), located in the area.
Renaissance On this square the emissary of
Florence proclaimed the end of the independence of Pisa in 1406. After the conquest of Pisa, the buildings remained the same, but changed public offices, a Florentine Commissioner and the Priors instead of the Elders, and a chief of custody instead of the Captain of the People. Later, in 1558, the square was rebuilt in Renaissance style by
Giorgio Vasari, the famous architect of the Grand Duke
Cosimo I de' Medici of Florence.
20th century Nowadays the Palazzo della Carovana houses the main building of the
Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, a university founded by Napoleon Bonaparte and modeled after the
Ecole Normale Superieure of Paris. Italian poet
Giosuè Carducci and physicist
Enrico Fermi are among some of the pupils who have studied here. There is also the house of the
Confraternita della Misericordia, a Catholic ambulance service. ==Buildings in the square==