| Named after the loggia next-door to the famous Sponza Palace, Loggia Square was formerly the market square. In its centre stands Orlando's column (Orlandov stup), carved with an effigy of Roland who is said to have rescued Dubrovnik from the Arabs. The statue, built in 1418, used to serve as a unit of measurement: the length of the forearm (51.2cm) was known as the "Raguse elbow" and in its base are notches in the stone to measure goods. The Clock Tower, built in 1444 and reconstructed in 1929, completes the square.
As you approach Luza Square from the Stradun, you'll see the arches of the 15th-century Sponza Palace on your left. Today the palace courtyard is a bright venue for art exhibits and concerts. There are several rooms off the courtyard. Two of the rooms hold artifacts significant to Dubrovnik. One contains copies of documents that chronicle Dubrovnik's history. The other is called the Memorial Room of the Defenders of Dubrovnik; it contains photos and biographies of the Croatian patriots who died during the 1991-92 siege of Dubrovnik plus a small souvenir shop. A 30m (100-ft.) bell tower to the left of the palace tolls the hour.
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