Piazza Duomo, nestled in the heart of the city, stands as a testament to centuries of history and culture. This majestic square, with its square layout, takes its name from the city’s Cathedral, dedicated to Mary Most Holy Assumed into Heaven—an imposing structure that dominates the entire surrounding area with its elegance and grandeur.

The square is the result of transformations that took place over time. In fact, the “old” square, much smaller than today’s, was located farther north and was known as Tocco Grande, a name linked to the subdivision of the city into two tocchi, which served as the electoral districts for choosing the city’s mayors. At Tocco Grande the two representatives of the common people and artisan classes were elected, while Tocco Piccolo (today’s Piazza Italia) elected the representative of the noble class.

The square is lined with elegant historic buildings, their façades embellished with wrought-iron balconies and refined architectural details. These structures tell ancient stories of noble families and of a past rich in events that shaped the city’s identity over the centuries. On the north side stands Palazzo Laface, owned by the family of the same name, and one of the most important Liberty-style monuments in Reggio Calabria.

Piazza Duomo was also the setting of a famous historical event that saw the Bourbon army clash with Garibaldi’s forces during the Expedition of the Thousand. It was August 21, 1860, and the victory won by the southern army marked a crucial step toward national unification.

In short, Piazza Duomo is far more than a simple meeting place: it is the religious and symbolic heart of the city, a space where the past blends harmoniously with the present.