Piazza Cairoli - Pisa

The piazza Cairoli was built in the mid-16th century during the reign of Cosimo I de Medici and under the impulse of provv editore Luca Martini. The work was carried out by Giovan Battista Cervelliera, who was already involved in the work on the Pisa Cathedral.
The shops on the west side, carved on old medieval foundations, were flanked by a portico with arches on quadrangular piers. In the middle of the facade above the loggia, which belonged to the work of the Duomo, the coat of arms of the family of Duke Cosimo I and his wife Eleonora di Toledo was later placed, surrounded by the crown of the Golden Fleece.
In the center of the square was placed the column that bears the statue of Dovizia by Pierino da Vinci. Only one side of the square remained complete with the loggia, while wooden canopies lined the other sides. Directly connected to the banks of the river, it had a role as an important port of call and entrance for those coming from the countryside to the city via the Arno. It thus fulfilled two fundamental functions for the daily life of the Pisans: it was the point of sale for fruits and vegetables, but also for other foodstuffs such as wine, fish, herbs and cheese (not for grain, which was sold in a special place, the current Piazza Vettovaglie).
The Piazza dei Cavoli was later given the name "della berlina" (of the pillory) to recall another function: that of the public pillory to which those convicted of minor offenses were subjected. It happened in the modern, and then contemporary, time that, in addition to the activities on the fruit and vegetable market, the public pillory was erected in the middle of the square.
Today, the square hosts a "farmer's market" with organic produce every fourth Saturday of the month.

Willem Vandenameele