Piazza dei Signori and Piazza della Signoria is one of the many squares of the historic city of Padua. It was for centuries the scene of civic celebrations, tournaments and space representation of the city compared to larger squares of herbs (erbe) and fruits (frutta) that had more commercial leanings. The square is dominated by the famous Clock Tower.
The square was born in the fourteenth century with the demolition of an old district that stretched in front of the church of San Clemente, the result of urban design, promoted by Ubertino from Carrara. The square was designed to give importance to the tower and access to Palace on the east side, that he was building. It became the scene of tournaments and courtship. According to tradition it was the "gentlemen" Carrara that the square took its name.
The war between the Carraresi and the Visconti, fourteenth century, damaged the square and the buildings and is called the period "of Desolation". In the 14th century, the Venetians restored the square to be the fifth main civic area: for tournament play, the rides, the battles, the courtship, concerts and music festivals. Initially known as the "Square of Triumphs" and again "Piazza della Signoria".
