The smallest of the three main squares in the city center, Piazza Broletto was the hub of public life during the 13th century, the era of the city’s commune. In the square stands the Palazzo Broletto, the city hall, which was redesigned in the 15th century. The building is also known as Palazzo della Podestà, and on its façade, you can spot a small statue of a seated and smiling Virgil — the Roman poet born near Mantua. This statue is known as “Virgil the Teacher.”

Be sure to notice the Arco Arengario, a 14th-century arch connecting two buildings, built from alternating red and white stones, which gives off a distinctly medieval atmosphere. Attached to the arch are iron rings that were once used to tie and torture prisoners brought from the nearby Torre Comunale, a tower that eventually became a prison.