It was created, such as it is now, at the half of the 16th century, under pope Papa Paolo III Farnese(1534-1549), who wanted to renew the city before the dukedoms of Parma and Piacenza were assigned to his son Pier Luigi. In the centre of the square a pillar coming from Palazzo Farnese has been raised. It supports a Madonna beneath which, at about 3 metres depth, a late roman jigsaw was found in 1859, during some excavations. In the square there are also the Cathedral and the Bishops Palace