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Piazza Ducale

Old towns ·Vigevano
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#1Things to do in Vigevano Province of Pavia LombardyMost reviewed in VigevanoTravelers' Choice 2025
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About

Piazza Ducale is Vigevano’s main Renaissance square, beside the Castello Sforzesco and the Duomo.

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Piazza Ducale

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Why go

  • The Duomo’s curved façade across the east side of the square.
  • The southwest gallery leading to the Castello Sforzesco.
  • Original columns and arches inside Caffè Commercio.
  • The nearby Bramante Tower, with a climb to a city panorama.

Don't miss

  • Portrait roundelsBusts of Roman figures and members of the Visconti and Sforza families appear with mottos and proverbs.Above the columns around the square.
  • San Giovanni Nepomuceno statueA statue of the saint stands on the square.West side of Piazza Ducale.
  • White-pebble paving patternArchitect Moretti created the pattern in 1911.On the square’s paving.

Tips for your visit

  • The city’s tourist train stops at the square.
  • There are shops on the square.

Interesting facts4

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  1. 134 metres

    The square measures 134 metres by 48 metres.

    Piazza Ducale (Vigevano) - Wikipedia

  2. Its design follows a Roman forum model described by Vitruvio.

    Piazza Ducale (Vigevano) - Wikipedia

  3. The paving contains black and white granite from the Tessin river.

    Piazza Ducale (Vigevano) - Wikipedia
  4. 84 columns

    The original arcades rested on 84 columns, each with a different capital.

    Piazza Ducale (Vigevano) - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

Donato Bramante designed it, reusing buildings on the north and west sides behind aligned façades. A broad ramp connected the square to the castle. An early 20th-century restoration uncovered fragments of older frescoes, which were supplemented with new Renaissance-style decoration.

  1. 1492–1494Ludovico Sforza commissioned the square as a forecourt to his castle. Donato Bramante designed it.
  2. 1680Bishop Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz reshaped the square. The castle ramp and triumphal arches were removed, and a staircase was added.
  3. Early 20th c.A restoration uncovered fragments of earlier frescoes. Casimiro Ottone and Luigi Bocca added new Renaissance-style decoration.

Sources: Piazza Ducale (Vigevano) - Wikipedia · Piazza Ducale (Vigevano) - Wikipedia · checked 29 Oct 2026

Where
Piazza Ducale, Vigevano

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

What can you see at Piazza Ducale in Vigevano?

The square has painted palace façades, arcades and the curved façade of the Duomo. Portrait roundels sit above the columns.

How do you reach Castello Sforzesco from Piazza Ducale?

A gallery at the southwest corner of Piazza Ducale leads to the castle.

Does the tourist train stop at Piazza Ducale?

Yes, Vigevano’s tourist train stops at the square.

Can you see Vigevano from a tower near Piazza Ducale?

Yes, you can climb the nearby Bramante Tower for a panorama of the city.

Are there shops at Piazza Ducale?

Yes, there are shops on the square.

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