The medieval heart of Este is its double square, a rare urban layout that reflects the civil and commercial life of the city. On one side is Piazza Maggiore, connected to public buildings and the roads leading to the Castle; on the other side is the market square, now Piazza Trento and Trieste, always the economic and social hub.
Since the Middle Ages, the area was lined with porticoed buildings on two sides, intended for daily trade. Here, timber markets were held in the sixteenth century, herb markets in the eighteenth century, and fruit markets in the nineteenth century, a sign of centuries of economic continuity. By the early nineteenth century, the layout of the square was similar to its current state, with some changes on the western side.
In Piazza delle Erbe (now Piazza Trieste), the true well was relocated to make way for the obelisk dedicated to Garibaldi, a symbol of the modern age and the arrival of the city aqueduct.
These squares tell the identity of Este as a lively space, where commerce, politics, and daily life have intertwined for centuries, shaping its historic center.
