Piazza Prampolini & the Tricolore
Standing in Reggio Emilia's main square feels like stepping into the moment Italy invented itself — this is where the green-white-red tricolour was officially adopted as a national flag in 1797. The square is ringed by terracotta palazzi, a Gothic-Romanesque cathedral and the elegant Palazzo del Municipio, making it one of the most photogenic civic spaces in all of Emilia-Romagna.
A Square Steeped in History
The Palazzo del Municipio on the north side houses the Sala del Tricolore, the very room where the Cispadane Republic voted to adopt the flag. Step inside and you'll find the original silk tricolour under glass — a genuinely moving sight even for non-Italians.
The cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta anchors the southern edge with its unfinished Renaissance façade and a cool, fresco-lined interior. Pop in to see the Guercino altarpiece and escape the midday heat at the same time.
Life on the Piazza
Early mornings bring espresso drinkers spilling out of the historic Caffè Arti e Mestieri onto the cobbles, while evenings see the square fill with the passeggiata crowd. The atmosphere is entirely local — tourists are still a relative rarity here.
Market stalls occasionally set up around the perimeter on weekends, selling local ceramics and seasonal produce. It's the kind of square where you can sit on a bench for an hour and feel completely absorbed into Italian daily life.
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