Prato della Valle
Square
Huge city square
Prato della Valle
Padua’s largest city square
The Prato della Valle in the south of Padua is not just the largest city square in Padua but also one of the largest squares in Europe. No wonder it is a popular resting and strolling area for the population of Padua. From the elliptical shape of the square you can still easily tell that a huge Roman arena once stood here. The remains were, however, demolished in the 16th century and used for the construction of the Basilica di Santa Giustina. In the resultant swamp the city government finally began in the 18th century to build the square in its present form. Around the island, surrounded by a channel, is a row of 78 stone figures, which represents famous citizens of Padua. Along the bridges, popes, doges and other famous people from history of Padua such as Galileo Galilei are crowded together.
On Saturdays there is a huge market that occupies almost the entire square and in June there is lot of activity at the annual theme park on the Prato della Valle.
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