Piazza dei Ciompi and its stories

Piazza dei Ciompi is a small square in the heart of the Santa Croce neighborhood. Many buildings in this area date back to the 16th century and housed artisans' and artists' workshops, including Cimabue's alleged workshop, where Giotto had worked, and Lorenzo Ghiberti's house. Although seemingly ancient, Piazza dei Ciompi was actually rebuilt in the 1930s, when the area was demolished because its old buildings were deemed unhealthy and run-down to make way for a modern neighborhood. The works, interrupted by the war, were completed in 1948. Fascism used the expression "the healing pickaxe" for these urban developments. Florentines called it "the disembowelment" instead, a meaningful term derived from butchering, already used for the destruction of the Mercato Vecchio and the Ghetto in 1885 to build Piazza della Repubblica.
The Loggia del Pesce, built in 1568 and a victim of the 1885 demolition, was also located in the Mercato Vecchio. The loggia was rebuilt in 1955 on the north side of Piazza dei Ciompi and has become the square's defining architectural feature. After years of being the site of the Flea Market, the square has now become a public garden, with a huge pine tree at its center and orange trees all around.

But who were the Ciompi to whom the square is dedicated? They were paid wool workers ("ciompare" means "to beat," referring to the beating of the wool fibers during processing). The production and trade of luxury fabrics was the basis of Florence's economic development, which, along with the banks, enriched the leading families, the so-called "popolo grasso" (fat people).
In 1378, the Ciompi, who worked in unhealthy conditions, were exploited and had no political representation, and revolted.

How it started
Florence in the 14th century was governed by the "people," but this term didn't have the same meaning we give it today. The people were made up of small and big entrepreneurs, so this didn't include everyone, nor the nobles, nor the workers or the poorest.
On June 18, 1378, the Gonfaloniere of Justice, Salvestro de' Medici, gathers the priors of Florence (the city's governing body, made up of representatives sorted by draw from among the people every two months to take part in the govern) to present a proposal that would strengthen the justice system, that is, the laws that punished nobles, the "enemies of the people," when they were too overbearing.
Despite having no representatives in government, the nobles still had power in the city as they were numerous, wealthy, and well-armed. In fact, they controlled the Guelph party (the one on the Pope's side), which guaranteed the city's orthodoxy. This often happened in a calculated and unjust manner, by accusing inconvenient people of being Ghibellines and thus preventing them from holding government positions.
The priors reject the proposal, and the gonfalon, announces to the people's council that he wants to resign because the priors were not allowing him to counter the arrogance of the nobles, declaring that they too are sellouts and enemies of the people too. This inflames the people, they immediately arm themselves and take to the streets to demand the priors' dismissal. Riots break out, and the priors are frightened, so they immediately approve Salvestro de' Medici's proposal to toughen the justice system against the noble magnates. However, although an agreement is reached, this solution is not enough. The people want more, and not just the people.
In fact, it is at this point that the truly poor, the workers, unexpectedly start swarming the square in front of the seat of the government. Realizing they are the majority, they decide to take matters into their own hands. They burn the homes of the "enemies of the people," the big entrepreneurs seen as traitors, they free the prisoners and attack convents, where the nobles usually stored their wealth during riots to prevent it from being looted.
The Ciompi, as all the rebellious workers were called, were immediately brought back into line by the priors, but nothing was resolved. Fear of retaliation and further revolts remained. Florence came to a standstill for days, until the unrest reached its peak with the insurrection of July 20th. The Ciompi took to the streets once again, threatening to burn down the priors' homes as well and this did the trick. Their demands were accepted. New guilds were created to include the workers. It was a victory.
Unfortunately, a temporary one.

How it ended
This government did not last long, soon even the workers' representatives who had taken office were seen as traitors. New discontents arose, and the Ciompi attempted to make new demands and revolt again, believing they still had the support of the people and their own representatives sent to government, but they were betrayed. Their insurrection was finally crushed, and the "popolo grasso" regained power. To obtain the rights the Ciompi demanded, we would have to wait centuries.
It ended in defeat, but it was an important revolt, one of the first popular economic and social uprisings in Europe, which mobilized the working class to defend their rights.