Piața Mică (Small Square) | Sibiu

Piața Mică (Small Square) is a central medieval plaza in the historic district of Sibiu, Romania. Built between the 14th and 16th centuries, it functioned as the primary commercial hub for the city's craftsmen and guilds.

Key Landmarks

Bridge of Lies (Podul Minciunilor): Romania's first cast-iron bridge (1859). Local legend dictates the bridge will collapse or creak if someone tells a lie while standing on it. It connects the Small Square to Huet Square.

Council Tower (Turnul Sfatului): Situated between the Small Square and the Large Square (Piața Mare). It features an observation deck with panoramic views of the city.

House of Arts (Casa Artelor): A 14th-century building with distinctive semicircular arches (loggias) on the ground floor, formerly used as a butchers' hall. It now houses ethnographic collections.

Museum of Pharmaceutical History: Located at No. 26 in the building that housed Sibiu’s first pharmacy (16th century).

Franz Binder Museum of Universal Ethnography: Housed in the Neo-Gothic "Hermes House."

Architectural Features

The "Eyes of Sibiu": Unique eyelid-shaped dormer windows in the roofs of surrounding buildings, originally designed for attic ventilation.

Loggias: Ground-floor arcades supported by massive pillars, which historically sheltered merchants from the weather.

Navigation and Access

Location: Upper Town, Sibiu.

Connectivity: Linked to the Large Square via tunnels under the Council Tower and to the Lower Town through the Bridge of Lies and various stairways.

Amenities: The square is populated with cafes, restaurants, and artisan shops. Some sections currently serve as car parking.