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Piazza San Prospero is one of the most beautiful and ancient squares in Reggio Emilia. It's in the heart of our town. The citizens call it "Piazza Piccola", or better, in our dialect "Piasa ceca" which means "small square". This square is called S. Prospero to remember our patron, a saint who saved our city from the barbarian invasions. According to the legend when the barbarian wanted to conquer the city, Prospero, the bishop of Reggio prayed God and soon the city was shrouded in a thick fog; so the fierce Attila (the leader of the barbarians) couldn't see Reggio Emilia and went on. Once a year, the whole city commemorates this legendary Bishop on 24th November.The best way to discover Piazza S.Prospero is through a small lane called "Sotto Broletto". Sotto Broletto is an arcade which was created in 1488. Once this area was a cemetery and later it was used by the clerics of the adjacent cathedral as a vegetable garden. Nowadays the arcade has a somewhat Oriental appearance thanks to its many colourful shop windows facing onto the passage and the market stalls. Broletto links the main square "piazza Prampolini or Piazza Grande" (large square) with Piazza S. Prospero ( the small square) and when you walk from Piazza Grande to Piazza San Prospero through Broletto you feel has if you have entered another century because everything here is old and timeless at the same time.
The most impressive landmark in the square is the"Basilica of San Prospero " with the statue of the saint on top of it and the characteristic unfinished octagonal bell tower. But undoubtedly the main characteristic of the square are the five gnarled lions of Verona marble, which with their sharp teeth and their menacing posture guard the church and the city itself against all kind of enemies. These lions were a present by a rich Lord. On the left and the right, of the church (basilica), there are old palaces with porticoes. Under the porticoes there are a lot of shops: the Bakery "Melli", clothes shops, toys shops, shoes shops and greengrocers. In the Bakery, they sell bread, pizza, "gnocco", biscuits, cakes and "erbazzone", a typical pie stuffed with spinach and parmesan cheese ( it's very, very good, you must try it! ).
Everyday, on the square, there is a colourful, busy and crowded market with a lot of stalls.
The square changes during the day: early in the morning, it's full of people who prepare their stalls. As the morning passes, it's crowded and busy, full of old people, housewives and toddlers. During the afternoon, it becomes less and less crowded and in the evening, especially in winter, there is nobody around. Autumn is the best season for the square: people sell chestnuts which they roast in huge pots on a big fire. Passers-by buy them wrapped in a piece of paper and eat them while they stroll. At Christmas time some artisans from Murano (a little city near Venice) offer handmade glass drops which they model on the spot. The lovely fragrance of chestnuts, freshly baked bread and cheese; the cheerful voices of children and the lively babble of people give life to everything while at night only the lions are fully awake.
Silvia Palmia and the 3RD C(8th form) Classe 3^C
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