The area now known as Piazza Barbacani, seamlessly integrated into the modern city and considered the “square in front of the Town Hall,” was once a steep slope descending from the castle walls into the valley below. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the area was filled in to create what would later become Corso Garibaldi.
Before this transformation, anyone standing in the center of what is now the square would have looked up at the castle from below. Additionally, in ancient times, access to the castle gate was blocked by defensive embankments known as “barbacani”.
In the first half of the 19th century, the open space north of the castle was occupied by modest buildings housing craft workshops, which were only demolished a century later. In 1927, the square took on its present appearance with the installation of its defining feature: the Baroque stone fountain.
This historic fountain, a gift to the city in 1629 from Marquis Innico d’Avalos, originally stood in front of Sant’Agostino Church (now the Cathedral of San Giuseppe). It was a vital water source for the town, supplied by the Acquedotto delle Luci. Local women would collect water using traditional copper basins, balancing them on their heads.
The moving of the fountain to Piazza Barbacani, made possible in 1926 by the arrival of the new Sinello aqueduct, was decided to free Piazza Lucio Valerio Pudente and use it for popular events, such as the installation of the cassa armonica, a large bandstand for the region’s popular musical performances.
Once also a fish market, Piazza Barbacani has since shed its commercial and industrial functions, evolving into an elegant gathering space, complementing nearby Piazza Diomede and the vibrant heart of the city.
