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Italian Piazzas - some of the most beautiful squares in Italy

Piazza San Pietro - Rome

Italy is the country of  thousand bell towers and many squares - the piazza. The Piazza is a meeting point for people; they have represented places of socialization and protest throughout history. But what are the most beautiful squares in Italy? There are so many stunning piazzas!  Let's take a short trip and take a wander across those beautiful piazzas.

For example, Piazza San Pietro, Città del Vaticano, Rome. It is certainly the most famous square in the world. It is the center of Christianity, the place where thousands of pilgrims come to pray and listen to the words of the pope. Made by Bernini with an oval shape, it is characterized by a colonnade that almost seems to want to wrap and embrace those who admire St. Peter's Basilica.

Piazza Navona - Rome

Piazza Navona is another magnificent jewel of the city of Rome and the undisputed symbol of the Capitoline Baroque. Built on the remains of the Stadium of Domitian from the Roman era, it retains its elongated and circular shape on the short sides. Here you will find street performers and quiet outdoor cafes.

Piazza del Duomo - Milan

The Piazza del Duomo is the ideal center of the city of Milan, beautifully decorated by the façade of the gothic church, il Duomo di Milano. On one side opens the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, full of bars and cafes, the Rinascente with its clothes shops and restaurants with a stunning view over the Piazza del Duomo.

Piazza Vittorio Veneto - Turin

One of the most evocative squares in Turin is certainly the one dedicated to Vittorio Veneto. A proper parade ground -what is striking is its size, almost opening towards the River Po and embracing the Church of Gran Madre di Dio, located on the other bank.

Piazza di Spagna - Rome

Another famous "square" in Rome is certainly Piazza di Spagna. It is characterized by the Spanish Steps and the Barcaccia, a fountain placed in its center. Nearby, you can find various fashion ateliers and the famous Via dei Condotti. Or you can just have lunch or aperitivo on the Palazzetto Terrace at Hassler Hotel.


Piazza Unità d'Italia - Trieste

Piazza Unità d'Italia in Trieste leaves you speechless. Of imperial beauty, it has the classic Habsburg architecture. It opens towards the sea and from there it absorbs the cool west wind. Enjoy a hot chocolate at Caffè degli Specchi or at night, watch the piazza as the lights all come on and lighten up the piazza.


Piazza San Marco - Venice

Piazza San Marco in Venice is unquestionably one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. Surrounded by famous and historic cafes such as the Florian, it opens up towards the evocative and oriental-looking Basilica of San Marco. The bell tower hides the Doge's Palace, with its particular architecture. For Napoleon it was "the most beautiful living room in the world".

Piazza Bra - Verona

Piazza Bra in Verona is a real city lounge. In the evening, many choose it for an aperitif or to eat in one of the nearby restaurants. The square also contains the famous Arena di Verona, an ancient Roman amphitheater that is the most stunning location for the annual Opera Program; which season has just started again.

Piazza del Campidoglio - Rome

Piazza del Campidoglio amazes for its geometric perfection and the silence in which it is enveloped. Made by Michelangelo, it is like a secret casket, almost detached from city traffic. At its center the perfect reproduction of the statue of Marcus Aurelius.


Piazza San Carlo - Turin

Piazza San Carlo in Turin represents the living room of the city. Recently transformed into a pedestrian zone; it has seen the resurgence of places where you can drink the famous “bicerin” which is a freshly made hot espresso coffee with homemade chocolate and milk cream. These are the ingredients that make up the Turin "bicerin" (glass) which has long been a real institution in the Piedmontese capital. Try the real "bicerin" at  the Caffè San Carlo with a view over the Piazza or  at the Caffè Confetteria Al Bicerin. This historic café, opened in 1793, was Cavour's favorite who used to sip the typical Turin drink at his tables. In the center of Piazza San Carlo, a monument to Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia.

Piazza dei Miracoli - Pisa

Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa has been included among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Piazza dei Miracoli, formally known as Piazza del Duomo, is a walled 8.87-hectare area located in Pisa, Tuscany, recognized as an important centre of European medieval art and one of the finest architectural complexes in the world. Here you can admire the magnificent Duomo and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Take this fabulous sight in, while having an aperitivo or coffee at the La Torre Cafe.


Piazza del Popolo - Rome

Piazza del Popolo was the gateway to the city from the Via Flaminia for Rome. Elliptical in shape, it has an obelisk in the center, a meeting point for the young people of the city. Three streets start from here: Via di Ripetta leading to the Pantheon and the Mausoleum of Augustus, Via del Corso which reaches Piazza Venezia, and Via del Babuino which reaches Piazza di Spagna. The name in modern Italian literally means "People's Square", but historically it derives from the poplars after which the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, in the northeast corner of the piazza, takes its name. The cafes around the Piazza, such as the Rosati or the Canova are legendary for the famous clientele. 

Piazza del Plebiscito - Naples

Piazza Plebiscito often hosts important events and large city events in Naples. The square underwent important changes during the Napoleonic era and today its beauty is mainly due to the presence of historic buildings such as the Basilica of San Francesco da Paola and the Palazzo Reale - the Royal Palace.  Just a minute walk from the Piazza, you will find the world famous Gran Caffè Gambrinus, where you have to indulge in a coffee or icecream, or try their special creation of babà  tiramisu, a delicious meeting between the excellence of cocoa coffee that mix with the ancient recipe of babà  - in a heavenly creation. 


Piazza del Campo - Siena

The most important square in Siena - Piazza del Campo is characterized by an original shell shape, which makes it unique in the world. Theater of the famous Palio, the square hosts some of the main buildings of the city, from the splendid Palazzo Comunale to the Torre del Mangia, from the Fonte Gaia to the Loggia della Mercanzia, to some marvelous historic buildings. Piazza del Campo in Siena, famous throughout the world for its architectural beauty and its particular 'clamshell' shape, lies in the junction point of the three hills on which the city stands and it is where the Palio di Siena takes place twice a year. There are many cafes around the Piazza del Campo, to take this fabulous view in, whether the Caffè Nannini or at the Gran Caffè Siena. 

Piazza della Signoria - Florence

The most central square in Florence, as well as the heart of civil power and social life, has an L shape and is the only one in the world to boast a succession of extraordinary sculptures, created with the aim of positively influencing the political leaders of the city. Among the works, the statues in front of Palazzo Vecchio stand out, such as Michelangelo's David and Donatello's Neptune and Marzocco. When in Florence (airport just 20 minutes from the city centre), my direct way is to the Rivoire on the Piazza della Signoria. Restaurant, Bar and Caffè - the ideal place to be seen and to watch the world go by. And of course I'll take a box of mixed Rivoire Pralines to my hotel....


Piazza del Duomo - Syracuse

With its peculiar semi-elliptical shape, the Piazza del Duomo embraces its marvelous Cathedral, built where a Christian basilica once stood and before that the Temple of Athena. In addition to the Cathedral, the square hosts some magnificent historic buildings: the seventeenth-century Palazzo Senatorio, the Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco and the Palazzo Vescovile. Why not take a pause at the Gran Caffè del Duomo and indulge in their famous Sicilian Cassata.

Piazza del Duomo - Lecce

It was once a courtyard, open only during the day. Today, the Piazza del Duomo it is one of the few examples of a closed square, dominated by the famous Cathedral - Basilica di Santa Croce, a triumph of the Lecce Baroque, and by the Bell Tower. The evocative composition is completed by the palaces of the Bishopric and the Seminary. Enjoy breakfast on the panoramic terrace of  Atenza restaurant of the Hotel  Palace Patria in front of Basilica di Santa Croce.


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