The square is hexagonal it being the nerve centre of the town, according to the original idea of the architects. Here, in fact, were the most important buildings both for civil and military direction of the “war machine” :
the Palazzo del Provveditore, the highest civil and military authority; the palazzo of Governatore delle Armi, the commander of the troops; the Cathedral and the rectory , the home of the faith and of the spiritual direction of the community; the Monte di Pietà (Pawnbroker’s), the Ospedale delle Milizie (Military Hospital), the Loggia della Gran Guardia.
On the entrances to the Borgos and Contradas you can admire the statues representing some of the Venetian noblemen who led the town during the 200 years of domain of the Republic of Venice. So the square was the headquarters of the governing bodies but could become, if under siege, the centre for regrouping the troops who were, then, easily dispersed to that area of the fortification in imminent danger.