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.
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Prato della Valle reviews
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This place is in good reach by public transportation. Huge open.space in the middle of old town. That is it. We thought it looked ugly. more »
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Large and interesting area, that had a few fruit and veg and clothing stalls at the town end. A few people around but was not busy to plenty of space to wander around, interesting buildings . One or..... more »
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The Church is free to visit but I would recommend the skip the line pass especially during heavy tourist season. I also recommend for 5 euro the upstairs balcony and museum which offers less crowded great views of both inside the Basilica as well as St Mark's Square. The mosaics are truly stunning and the historic nature of this 900 years old structure is amazing!
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Well worth a visit. You will not find many squares of this kind around the North of Italy. Try to avoid market day, as the big stalls and their covers will not allow you to have a decent view...
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