Of course Central Park has everything and more. It is not configured nor feel like a town square. It is a glorious park.

The Luxembourg Gardens of Paris is one of my most cherished places in the world, but it is NOT a square; it is a large park.

I nominate Place des Vosges.

#2 Madison Square Park in Manhattan

#3 The litte square behind the Lincoln Plaza Cinema on the UWS of Manhattan

Thin

If I could answer this question, I would quit travelling.

Actually, Madison Sq. Park is only sort of a town square. Union Square is a town square.

St. Marks! (only after midnight when it empties out)

Truly though, any and every square in Venice.

Oaxaca

The town square in Krakow was the first one that popped into my head. Also love the Piazza San Marco without the crowds.

How is Madison Square not a square when it is called "Madison Square"?

You are daft.

Why is Union Square a town square? Because it has a green market?????????

We are are on pins and needles awaiting your erudite reply.

Thin

Actually - we are geometrically challenged in NYC Madison Sq is a trapezoid. Times Square is a couple of triangles and the current Madison Sq Garden is round.

Jeesh! People are having fun tossing around names of squares, towns, town squares, parks, green markets etc and they get called "daft" and "erudite"? Wow. For Shame.

Well, there's nothing wrong with being erudite. I would that more were.

I was happy to see my beloved Rittenhouse Square on this list; I also really enjoyed Rynek Glowny and, of course, Red Square is magnificently beautiful. I don't know how I could ever choose one square, though; they are so different from each other.

A couple of my faves, not yet mentioned I think:

Washington Square, San Francisco

Trafalgar Square, London

Palace Square, St. Petersburg - http://www.lindsayfincher.com/russia...e-postcard.jpg

George Square, Glasgow

But winner with a bullet - Naghshe Jahan (Imam) Square, Isfahan Iran http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._modified.jpg; http://gardyloo.us/iranscan0810s.jpg

Sorry, dead link for Isfahan, can't edit Fodors. :(

Try this: http://image40.webshots.com/40/6/46/...3qYKxMH_fs.jpg

Siena and Bologna for sure.

Cousin Muffy's Uncle Tony and my great-grandfather both lived on Rittenhouse Square.

I had sex with a stranger on a bench in Rittenhouse Square when I was 17. :) My friend, Brian, made me do it. It was gross.

Thin

Ah, Thin, your Philadelphia and mine...Rittenhouse doesn't hold those kinds of associations for me, in either case: more happy flower child type. (Perhaps it's good that I didn't know your friend Brian.) Oh, and very best wishes to Cousin Muffy for strength and happiness.

Gardyloo, I still can't link but would love to see Isfahan!