Which lesser known square is Europe's most gorgeous?
One of my favorite parts of a European city is it's public or market square. There are the obvious ones that spring to mind: Trafalgar Square in London, St Mark's in Venice, Place de la Concorde in Paris to name a few... sooooooooo.... which would be your vote for a hidden gem of a plaza, market, or piazza? Try to think of one that is not quite as well known that you have visited. Please avoid ones that most people could easily identify from a photo such as Brussels' Grand Place or Prague's Castle Square. I'm looking for the lesser known beauties out there ;-)
i cast my vote for the Vrijdagmarkt in the criminally overlooked city of Gent http://static.panoramio.com/photos/o...l/69731464.jpg would love to see what others come back with |
<i>"the criminally overlooked city of Gent"</i>
Would that be Ghent in Belgium? |
Gent is the local, Flemish (Dutch) spelling of the Anglicised Ghent, or Gand in French.
Not overlooked by any means, but the main square in Krakow, Rynek Główny, is breathtaking. |
That Ghent one is a bit overblown for my tastes.
Try the Place du Furstenberg in Paris, exquisite, small and quiet. |
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To bad this question is limited to Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Italy. I would know some in other countries.
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My vote will always go to Place Stanislas in Nancy.
http://www.anyportinastorm.proboards...&page=1#135399 |
My vote is Telc in the Czech Republic. All the buildings have been restored and there is a wonderful symmetry to the square.
http://modigliani.shutterfly.com/cze...frankfurtpa/73 http://modigliani.shutterfly.com/cze...frankfurtpa/89 http://modigliani.shutterfly.com/cze...frankfurtpa/76 |
Place des Vosges in Paris is my favourite. I love it.
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i shouldn't have tagged those countries... it's open to any place in Europe. these look good so far. let's hear some more
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So many to choose from and my favorite places to explore when in Europe, no matter the country.
Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin Piazza Maggiore in Bologna Santa Maria in Trastevere - great contrast of historical significance and current day vibrant nightlife Piazza Sant'Ambrogio in Florence - local public market as well as artisan shops and restaurants - out of the tourist fray Munich's Marienplatz |
Segovia with the Roman aqueduct.
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Plaza de la Glorieta in Las Manchas, La Palma. A magical little square in a small village in La Palma (Canary Islands).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFhjmkRT4Qo http://www.qype.es/place/425343-Plaz...photos/3575365 The wine museum around the corner is also worth a visit ;). |
Salamanca..Plaza Mayor..exceptional and as TorontoSteven says..Segovia!!! Hard to define the places as each has it's own charm and beauty.
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Place St-Louis, Aigues-Mortes
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Another enthusiastic vote for Place Stanislas in Nancy.
I suspect I might also vote for Lviv, but the square was being repaved when I was there and I didn't get to see it at its best. I rather liked the square - more of a rectaangle - in Levoca, Slovakia. |
Piazza del Duomo, in Syracuse, gorgeous and almost no tourists. Bonus is you can sit on the Piazza and have a glass of good cheap Sicilian wine.
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I won't say this is the best, but in one of the squares in Dubrovnik we saw a dancing bear. The square was full of gypsies, peasants, a market with shoppers, and the bear. At first we thought, hey, this Dubrovnik is something, till we realized they were making a film.
I didn't learn till later how they train the bear to dance. Since then I've never liked to see that. |
A third vote for Place Stanislas! The first time I saw it was at dusk on a November evening. The lights had just come on, people were having their pre-dinner drinks at cafes, the temperature was cool and crisp, it was wonderful in every possible way.
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