the beautiful Loggia della Mercanzia with its long history is fenced off towards the street and serves as a private club... It can be admired therefore only from the road, and entered onyl by the (male) members of the high snobiety club.

The elegant and very beautiful Loggia della Mercanzia, known also as Loggia di San Paolo or Loggia Dei Nobili, is typical palace of Sienese architecture in its transition from Medieval to Renaissance. It served as an early trading venue in the city. The Loggia della Mercanzia is directly behind Piazza del Campo, at a point known as the Croce del Travaglio junction of the three main streets around which Siena is developed, Banchi di Sopra, Banchi di Sotto (a branch of the old Via Francigena that ran through the city) and Via di Città. Designed by Sano di Matteo and Pietro del Minella between 1417 and 1428, the Gothic-Renaissance Loggia della Mercanzia is composed of a spacious loggia with three arches supported above richly decorated pillars. The statues on the pillars are of St. Peter, St. Paul by the sculptor Vecchietta and the three patron saints of Siena, Saint Savino, St.Ansano and St.Vittore by Ferdinando Fuga. A tabernacle was added in the 17th century supported by columns. The vaults of the building have stuccos and frescoes that have been extensively restored in the 19th century. Notable among them is one by the Pastorino of Pastorini and another by Lorenzo Rustici. Extremely beautiful and interesting palace.