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Surrounded by historic buildings, the square served as the administrative and commercial hub of Porto Ercole for centuries. Beneath its cobblestones lie ancient underground warehouses, once used for storing goods.
The main square of the old town is bordered on three sides by historic buildings whose facades tell the story of the place: from the Renaissance facade of the Governor’s Palace to the houses rebuilt after the war.
In addition to serving as the administrative heart of the village, it was also its commercial hub.
In fact, beneath the square lies a series of large warehouses covered by massive barrel vaults, which were expanded in the early 1500s by Agostino Chigi.
The open side facing the harbor is surrounded by Siena’s medieval walls and protected by the imposing hexagonal bastion, designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini, which could accommodate sixartillery pieces and 25 men.
Piazza Santa Barbara is located within a restricted traffic zone (ZTL), so it is not accessible by car without a permit.
The square’s paving is historic and slightly uneven, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes with good traction, especially for those with mobility issues or poor balance.
The closest place where you can pull over to let passengers out is in Piazza Ricasoli, about 120 meters away. From there, you can access the pedestrian zone that leads directly to the square.
