Formerly known as Piazza della Legna (Wood Square) due to the trade that took place there, the square, depicted here in an early 20th-century image, was dedicated to Italy after unification.
In the center stands the marble statue representing Italy personified, with her head crowned by turreted walls and the shield bearing the names of the fallen citizens of Pavia.
The building in the background was replaced during the Fascist era with the current headquarters of the Prefecture and Provincial Administration.