01 October 2019
Amidst wonderful monuments, baroque fountains, Italian ruins and old churches, the piazzas of Italy are certainly the best way to get to know the life and history of the city. Every Italian piazza has several commonalities: their civic and symbolic importance, they’re the physical center of the community and also being the main outdoor theater. The piazza is the home to the most important political buildings, the main cathedral, cafes, restaurants, and sometimes monuments or fountains. There’s no better place to people-watch in Italy than in a piazza. Among the countless iconic piazzas throughout Italy, we have chosen the Top 10 Most Iconic Piazzas.
1.) Piazza del Duomo of Milan
A stunning cathedral square that is equally renowned the world over is the Piazza del Duomo of the city of Milan. It is known mainly for being home to the Milan Cathedral, the fifth largest cathedral in the world. The Gothic-style church took almost six centuries to build, with the first stone laid in 1386 and the last gate inaugurated only in 1965. Other important buildings found around the piazza include the Palazzo Reale di Milano (the royal palace), which is now an important cultural center, and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, which was completed in 1877 and is today one of the oldest shopping malls in the world.
Although the piazza’s current look largely dates back to 1860, the open space itself has been around since 1330, when the lord of Milan, Azzone Visconti, ordered the creation of a market square which first became known as the Piazza dell’Arengo. The square was redesigned several times over the centuries. In 1860, the city government launched a competition for the redesigning of the piazza in celebration of the unification of Italy into a single kingdom — a contest won by architect Giuseppe Mengoni.
2.) Piazza Navona, Rome
There are just so many piazzas in Rome that it is hard not to include this magical destination on the list. The Piazza Navona is arguably the most beautiful city square in Rome and one of the most important in terms of history and heritage. The piazza is known for its classic architectural treasures designed in the Baroque Roman tradition. These include the Palazzo Pamphilj and the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, both of which were built in the 17th century. It is also home to the famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or Fountain of Four Rivers. Built-in 1651, it represents four rivers in four continents, namely Africa’s Nile River, Europe’s Danube, Asia’s River Ganges, and the Americas’ Río de la Plata.
The present site of the piazza sits over the interior arena of the ancient Stadium of Domitian, commissioned in 80 BCE by Emperor Domitian for the staging of agones or games. This is why the piazza still follows the stadium’s shape, while the stadium’s original lower arcades are actually integrated into parts of the buildings that now surround the square.
3.) Piazza San Marco, Venice
Napoleon is said to have called St. Mark’s Square “the finest drawing room in Europe.” Saint Mark’s Square itself is grand and beautiful but nestled between the Doge’s Palace and Biblioteca Marciana lies this pretty little square. It has views out to the lagoon and enormous pillars topped with statues of the symbols of Venice: the lion and Saint Teodora of Amasea.
The piazza, having more than a 1,200-year-old history alone makes it one of the most culturally and historically significant sites in Italy. Furthermore, the landmarks surrounding it — the 900-year-old Italo-Byzantine St. Mark’s Basilica and its prominent campanile (bell tower), the Grand Canal, the Palazzo Ducale, plus the entire ancient city of Venice itself and its famous lagoon makes visiting Piazza San Marco all the more special.
4.) Piazza San Pietro, Rome
Originally, only the four-thousand-year-old Egyptian obelisk erected in 1568 and a Carlo Maderno fountain built-in 1613 were the prominent features of the open space in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. Between the years 1656 to 1667, however, Pope Alexander VII commissioned architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini to redesign the space and turn it into the modern piazza we know at present. Today, gigantic Doric-style colonnades surround the square, achieving Bernini’s purpose of creating a space meant to make visitors feel they are being welcomed into the open arms of Christendom.
5.) Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa
Formally known as the Piazza del Duomo (cathedral square) of Pisa, the Piazza dei Miracoli is one of the most recognizable public squares in Italy, thanks in no small part to the world-famous monuments built within its square. The buildings are interspersed with lush green lawns forming a striking contrast of green against the bright white Pisan Romanesque architecture.
The walled complex is home to the Pisa Baptistry, the Camposanto Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery), and of course, the Pisa Cathedral and its distinctive campanile, which is more popularly known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The piazza, whose construction began in the 11th century, is considered one of the most outstanding Medieval public squares in Europe. In 1987, the entire piazza and its buildings were inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage list.
6.) Piazza del Campo, Siena
The Piazza del Campo stands at the meeting point of three hillside settlements which came together to form the town of Siena. The square is adjacent to the Palazzo Pubblico (town hall), which was first built in 1297, and to the Torre del Mangia, a bell tower which, at 289 feet, became one of the tallest Medieval towers in Italy when it was completed in 1348.
Before the 13th century, the site where the Piazza del Campo now stands was a simple open marketplace. In 1349, it was paved with red brick to form a shell-shaped public space with nine divisions that fan out from a central water drain known as gavinone. Today, it still is an important part of the Sienese culture, serving host to the Palio di Siena, a traditional horse race that started in 1656.
7.) Piazza del Duomo of Florence
At the beating heart of Florence’s historic center lies the Piazza del Duomo and its exceptional collection of works of art and architecture. One of the architectural jewels that surround the square is the magnificent Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower), whose gothic exterior was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio and whose famous dome was engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi.
Standing near this cathedral is its 278-foot Florentine Gothic campanile designed by Giotto, which was first built in 1334. Across the church also stands the Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistry of St. John), which was constructed between 1059 and 1128. The piazza is part of the city’s historic center, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. Today it is one of the most visited places both in Europe and in the whole world.
8.) Piazza Maggiore, Bologna
Like most piazzas in Italy, the Piazza Maggiore in Bologna started out as a simple marketplace where people gathered and important town events were held. During the Medieval period, the city government envisioned a more organized town square where important buildings will be clustered. Thus, the construction of the new piazza began in the 13th century. The present square is bordered by Gothic and Renaissance-style buildings.
The oldest of these is the Palazzo del Podestà, which was finished in the year 1200 and once served home to the podestà or the local public officials of the commune. Other structures include the Palazzo d’Accursio (constructed in the 13th century), Palazzo dei Notai (first built in 1381), the Palazzo dei Banchi (first built in 1412), and the Basilica of San Petronio, an unfinished church which stands today as the 15th largest in the world.
9. Piazza di Trevi, Rome
One of the most popular squares in all of Italy is known for its majestic fountain. The Trevi Fountain is the most beautiful fountain in Rome. Measuring some 20 meters in width by 26 meters in height, Trevi Fountain is also the largest fountain in the city. The origins of the fountain go back to the year 19 B.C., in which period the fountain formed the end of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct. The first fountain was built during the Renaissance, under the direction of Pope Nicholas V. The final appearance of the Trevi Fountain dates from 1762 when after many years of works at the hand of Nicola Salvi, it was finalized by Giuseppe Pannini.
10.) Piazza della Signoria, Florence
Piazza della Signoria has been the political center of Florence since the 14th century when houses of prominent families had to make way for the new square. It's been the center for ceremonial events, rallies, and festivals ever since, and here, you'll find several iconic Florence tourist attractions: Palazzo Vecchio, the Neptune Fountain, the Uffizi Gallery, the Loggia dei Lanzi, and copies of statues by Michelangelo and Donatello.
The square was busy long before the Renaissance palace made it the headquarters for the government. Excavations in the 1980s turned up finds from the Roman era and earlier relics from the Etruscan period and even the Bronze Age. This is the heart of the city for Florentines, and although its cafes and restaurants are likely to be filled with tourists, Piazza della Signoria is one of the top places to visit in Florence.
This concludes our selection of the Top 10 Most Iconic Piazzas! Is there a piazza you would have liked to see on our list? Are you wondering how you can learn more about these authentic & historic places in Italy? If you are local to Florida join us on Saturdays @ 4:00pm for our FREE events ( 119 NE 2nd Ave. Delray Beach, FL 33444) or join us online for more upcoming presentations. Thank you so much and look for more TOP 10 lists very soon.