Piazza dei Mercanti
Piazza dei Mercanti, was built from 1228, in square enclosure form. Since the Middle Ages, the square has hosted the premises of magistracy and administrative offices along with markets, schools, jails and stores. The works for the new street began in 1562 (starting from the western side) following Vincenzo Seregni's project, in which one can find the influence of then contemporary architect Galeazzo Alessi. In order to build the new street, the archways to the Pescheria Vecchia were torn down, together with the Fustagnari gate on the opposite side. In 1872 the Banca Rasini took over the site of the Portico della Ferrata, of which only the original façade survived. In 1904 the Loggia degli Osii was rebuilt, changing the original ground plan of 1316. By 1896 all that was left of the Palazzo delle Scuole Palatine, built in the 17th century by Carlo Buzzi on the side of the Azzone Portico, was the faÙade. In 1899, Luca Beltrami started rebuilding the Casa dei Panigarola. Present day Via Mercanti runs from Piazza del Duomo to Piazza Cordusio, passing between Palazzo della Ragione and Palazzo dei Giureconsulti, which was built in 1561, during the 19th century it became the stock exchange, and more recently it was acquired by the Chamber of Commerce.
