Built (1840 – 1842) on a project by Francesco Bruyn, from the will of Societ‡ del Tergesteo, with the aim to serve as a place for commerce and a meeting point for the inhabitants. The main facades, identical, are pretty uniform above the smooth ashlar base including the ground floor and the mezzanine. The group of statues on the faÁade overlooking Piazza della Borsa was made by Pietro Zandomeneghi. At the center there is the goddess of the sea, Thetis (Trieste), standing on a seashell dragged by four horses coming out of the waves. On the right there is Mercury, the god of commerci. On the rear faÁade toward Teatro Verdi there is a group of sculptures made by Antonio Bianchi: Neptune is at the center, Mercury stands beside him and, on the sides, the allegories of geography and history.