Almost every city has some sort of square,
serving an important purpose as a social and commercial meeting place.
They are usually surrounded by shops, restaurants, and a city hall. At
their center is often a fountain, monument, or a statue. But besides
these similarities, town squares also have their own unique history.
Today, we look at some of most famous city squares around the world.
14Plaza Mayor
The best known plaza in Madrid, Spain, this impressive city square is
one of the main stops on any tourist visit. Originally built outside
the city walls, Plaza Mayor has played host to bullfights, markets,
symphonies, soccer games and executions. The statue of Philip III sits
in the middle across from the beautifully painted Casa de la Panadería,
the former headquarters of the bakers guild.
13Plaza de Mayo
The Plaza de Mayo has, since being the scene of the 25 May 1810
revolution that led to independence, a focal point of political life in
Buenos Aires and, arguably, Argentina. Several of the city’s major
landmarks are located around the Plaza including the Cabildo (the city
council during the colonial era). Located in the center of the Plaza de
Mayo is The May Pyramid, the oldest national monument in Buenos Aires.
The plaza, since 1977, is where the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo have
congregated with signs and pictures of desaparecidos, their children,
who were subject to forced disappearance by the military junta.
12Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a large city square commemorating Lord Horatio
Nelson’s victory against Napoleon’s navy at the Battle of Trafalgar in
1805. The central monument within the square is a single tall column on
which the figure of Nelson stands gazing over London. His monument is
surrounded by four colossal lions and a series of large fountains. Much
more than just an open plaza, Trafalgar Square is one of the most famous
city squares in the United Kingdom and has become a social and
political location for visitors and Londoners alike.
11Zócalo
Located in the heart of the historic center of Mexico City, the
Zócalo is one of the largest squares in the world. It is flanked by the
Metropolitan Cathedral to the north, and the National Palace to the
east, as well as a number of other historic buildings. A huge Mexican
flag occupies the center, which is ceremoniously lowered and raised each
day. The city square has been a gathering place for Mexicans since
Aztec times, having been the site of Mexica ceremonies.
10Grand Place
The Grand Place (or Grote Markt) is the central city square of
Brussels in Belgium. It is surrounded by guildhalls, the city’s Town
Hall, and the Breadhouse. Along with the Atomium and Manneken Pis , the
square is the most important tourist destination in Brussels. Every two
years in August, an enormous “flower carpet” is set up in the
Grand Place for a few days. A million colorful begonias are set up in patterns covering a large part of the square.
9Old Town Square
Located between Wenceslas Square and the Charles Bridge, Prague’s Old
Town Square is often bursting with tourists and locals in the summer.
Featuring various architectural styles including the Gothic Týn
Cathedral and baroque Saint Nicholas Church, the city square is an oasis
for travelers wearied by Prague’s narrow streets. Among many churches,
tourists may find the Astronomical Clock on this square, while the tower
at the Old Town Hall offers a panoramic view of the Old Town.
8Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco, is the principal square of Venice, where it is
generally known just as “the Piazza”. A remark often attributed to
Napoleon calls the Piazza San Marco “The drawing room of Europe”. It is
one of the great city squares in Europe where human voices prevail over
the sounds of motorized traffic. The Basilica of San Marco, one of the
highlights of Venice, is located at the eastern end of the square. The
Piazza San Marco is the lowest point in Venice, and as a result it is
the first to flood during storms or even heavy rain.
7Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square in Beijing is the largest city square in the world.
The square is surrounded by Soviet-style monuments and government
buildings. Tiananmen Square remains an astounding place and a spot to
linger and see visitors from all over China, many visiting their capital
for the first time. There is a flag raising and lowering ceremony at
dawn and dusk at the north end of the square. There are 4 marble lions
in front of the Tiananmen gate, the northwest one has a bullet hole on
its stomach from the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
6Main Market Square
A popular
tourist attraction in Poland,
the Main Market Square (Rynek Główny ) in the Old Town in Kraków is the
largest medieval town square in Europe dating back to the 13th century.
The square is surrounded by historical townhouses, historic buildings,
palaces and churches. The center of the square is dominated by the
Cloth Hall, rebuilt in 1555 in the Renaissance style, topped by a
beautiful attic. Rising above the city square are the Gothic towers of
Saint Mary’s Basilica.
5Times Square
New York’s famous city square, Times Square is located at the
junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to
West 47th Streets. A place filled with video screens, LED signs, and
flashing lights; a top attraction or a tourist nightmare depending on
your perspective, the “new” Times Square is a family-friendly theme park
of themed restaurants, theaters and hotels, as well as a developing
business district. The lights and signs can be viewed anytime, but the
most enchanting experience comes when one visits Times Square at night,
as all the signs and screens are ablaze with color. Times Square is also
well known for its famous New Year’s Eve ball drop.
4Saint Peter's Square
Saint Peter’s Square is located directly in front of St. Peter’s
Basilica in Vatican City, Rome. Colossal Tuscan colonnades, four
columns deep, frame the trapezoidal entrance to the basilica and the
massive elliptical square which precedes it. At the center of the
ellipse stands an Egyptian obelisk which was transported from Egypt to
Rome during the reign of Emperor Augustus. It was moved from the circus
to its current site in 1586 under the direction of Pope Sixtus V. During
the Middle Ages, the gilt ball on top of the obelisk was believed to
contain the ashes of Julius Caesar. When the ancient metal ball was
removed however, only dust was found.
3Piazza del Campo
One of Europe’s greatest medieval city squares, the Piazza del Campo
is the principal public space of the historic center of Siena, Tuscany,
Italy. It is renowned worldwide for its beauty and architectural
integrity. The Palazzo Pubblico and its famous tower, as well as various
palazzi signorili belonging to the wealthiest of Siena families
surround the shell-shaped piazza. The twice-per-year horse-race, Palio
di Siena, involves circling the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer
of dirt has been laid, three times and usually lasts no more than 90
seconds.
2Djemaa el Fna
Djemaa El-Fna is the highlight of any visit to Marrakech and one of the top
tourist attractions in Morocco.
By day this square at the heart of the medina is largely filled with
snake charmers and people with monkeys, as well as some of the more
common stalls. As the day progresses the entertainments on offer
change: the snake charmers depart, and in the afternoon and evening the
square becomes more crowded, with story-tellers, magicians, and peddlers
of traditional medicines. As dark descends the square fills with dozens
of food-stalls, and the crowds are at their height.
1Red Square
The Red Square is located in the heart of Moscow and the first
destination for most visitors to the city. The square is surrounded by
Saint Basil’s Cathedral, the State History Museum, Lenin’s Mausoleum and
one of the Kremlin’s long brick walls. The name Red Square derives
neither from the color of the bricks around it nor from the link between
the color red and communism. Rather, the name came about because the
Russian word krasnaya can mean either “red” or “beautiful”. This word
was originally applied to Saint Basil’s Cathedral and was subsequently
transferred to the nearby square.
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