La Lizza

La Lizza

The monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi
Shown within Tuscany
Location	Siena, Tuscany, Italy
Coordinates	43°19′25″N11°19′34″E / 43.3236°N 11.3262°E / 43.3236; 11.3262

La Lizza is a square and public park in central Siena, Region of Tuscany, Italy. It is a very popular promenade spot for the Sienese population, as the main green space in the medieval city.

The wide area of La Lizza includes the gardens founded at the end of the 18th century, the section of the square adjacent to Piazza Gramsci, and the Medicean Fortress, located at the border with the San Prospero neighborhood. The gardens are bounded by the avenues of Viale Rinaldo Franci (to the north) and Viale Cesare Maccari (to the south).

History

The area had previously hosted an equestrian school and knightly tournaments since the late 16th century, concurrent with the construction of the nearby Fortezza Medicea. ^{[1] [2]}

In 1779, based on a project by Antonio Matteucci, the area was transformed into a public park with improvements to the lawn and the widening of the road leading to the fortress, making it a gathering place for the local nobility and bourgeoisie. ^{[3] [4]} Between 1869 and 1872, under the design of Pietro Marchetti, the area was further expanded and enhanced: walkways were created, a fountain with a water clock was installed, along with a stage for performances and a café. ^[1] In 1896, at the center of the park, the equestrian statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi was inaugurated, created by Raffaello Romanelli. ^[5]

Monuments and buildings

La Lizza fountain

In the gardens

• Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, by Raffaello Romanelli (1896) ^[6]
• Monument to the horse, by Sandro Chia (1994) ^{[1] [7]}
• La Lizza fountain ^[1]

On the square

• Palazzo Zuccantini-Zondadari, former Grand Hotel Royal (19th century) ^[8]
• Palazzo Bernardi-Avanzati (1720) ^[9]
• Santo Stefano alla Lizza, at the corner with Via dei Gazzani

On the promenades

• Asilo Monumento, by Vittorio Mariani (1924), on Viale Franci ^[10]
• Casa del Mutilato (1930), on Viale Maccari ^[11]
• Siena Courthouse, by Pierluigi Spadolini (1980), on Viale Franci ^[12]

References

1. "La Lizza e la Fortezza a Siena". Fondazione Musei Senesi.
2. Falorni, Marco (22 January 2024). "La Lizza, origine del nome e funzione storica". Siena Post.
3. "Giardini pubblici della Lizza". Siena Turismo.
4. "1778: iniziano i lavori per spianare il Prato della Lizza". Il Palio.
5. "All'epoca del Risorgimento". Terre di Siena.
6. "Il monumento a Garibaldi in Siena". Frugolino, giornale dei fanciulli. No. 1. 8 October 1896. pp. 15–16.
7. Falassi, Alessandro (1994). "Il Cavallo dell'Istrice". L'Aculeo. No. 2.
8. "Sa dov'è il Grand Hotel Royal? Il 20 marzo lusso che fu a "Turisti per casa"". 17 March 2016.
9. "Palazzo Bernardi Avanzati". Catalogo generale dei beni culturali.
10. "Asilo monumento". Catalogo generale dei beni culturali.
11. Rondini, Augusto (1933). Siena e la sua provincia. Siena. p. 403.
12. Mingardi, Lorenzo (2023). "Il Palazzo di Giustizia di Siena di Pierluigi Spadolini. Il dogma della componibilità". In Simone Barbi; Lorenzo Mingardi (eds.). Lezioni dagli archivi di architettura. Architetture civili del Novecento in Toscana. Firenze: Didapress. pp. 92–109.