Originally used as a corn market, in 1186 this square stood just outside the 10th-century town walls, beyond the Town Gate of San Pietro, which stood where the archway leading through to the tiny square Piazza Cinque Lampadi now is.
In the 12th century, the Barbarossa walls included Piazza Banchi in the city and turned it into the place where the early business exchanges between tradesmen and bankers took place.
This is where the word ‘bankruptcy’ comes from, deriving from the custom of axing to pieces insolvent bankers’ business desks, banchi in Italian.
Extract from, Loggia dei Mercanti -Piazza Banchi.
I love this piazza. It was the place where I bought my flowers in those days when I still bought flowers. And it's a place that I wander through daily while exploring the city.
I think you can see something of what brings me back to Genova, again and again ...
