Prato della Valle, Padua

Take a breather from your tour of the city and watch the world go by at Prato della Valle, a 90 sq m (969 sq ft) elliptical square, the largest such public space in the country and one of the biggest in Europe. The square was built in 1775 on the site of what used to be a theater and fairground. The present layout includes a large central grassy area, which is surrounded by a statue-lined canal and a broad expanse of flagstones. On the weekends the square is the site of a popular market, but on all other days this space attracts joggers, cyclers, rollerbladers, and passing tourists stopping by for a quick rest and a few snapshots. The square is said to be at its most photogenic in the evening. Prato della Valle is just one of the many highlights you can arrange to see using our , online itinerary creator Edition.