Picturesque Squares—My 15 Favorites in Europe
By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert
www.dreamdestinations.com
In almost every town in Europe, there is a square. Squares have always been important to cities and their citizens.
So, I thought you might enjoy hearing my thoughts and see some pictures about what I consider my 15 favorite squares of Europe.
Don’t expect any real rationale for my selections—I have organized it alphabetically by countries of Europe; there is not one favorite square over another; and my only rationale is that I liked them—something was cool in my mind.
Before I start, I do have to give some homage to the 2 most important ancient squares—the Acropolis and the Roman Forum.
So, let me defend my thoughts—I’ll tell you a little about my 15 favorite squares, maybe some history, but the real criteria is why they appeal to me.
Ready for my personal square tour?—let’s go!
Why Squares Are Important
Town squares are a unique Europe innovation.
They go by many names, such as: agora, forum, piazza, plaza, Platz, or market place
These town squares often are the most important place in a city. Many have town halls located on them and are ringed by other buildings. Most have restricted entrances, and are enclosed spaces which, in essence, makes it an outdoor building.
They helped cities develop a sense of community, often display culture items, important business buildings and foster democracy as a meeting place. Most also have at least one important religious building, sometimes more.
Perhaps more importantly, this gathering place is an ideal venue to exchange ideas and viewpoints. This area serves so many functions—people watching, political discussions, all sorts of markets, and fosters a sense of belonging because of these interactions.
2 Ancient Squares
The Acropolis means “upper city.” It is the symbol of the golden age of Greece. The largest building on the Acropolis is the Parthenon, which was a temple for the goddess Hera. The buildings here were built from 447 BC to 420 BC. It towers over the Agora of Athens. Both areas were gathering places for the ancient Greeks. This is the birthplace of democracy.
The Roman Forum was the center of ancient Roman life. It was the commercial, political and religious focus for all Romans. Almost every important event in Roman life happened here—elections, ceremonies, religious observances, parades for triumphant armies, speeches, markets, and political decisions and creation of laws. Many of the functions of the Roman Forum now happen in the current day squares of Europe.
Belgium
There are 3 great squares in this small country.
Antwerp is our first stop. The Grote Markt square has an impressive town hall and the wonderful statue of Barbo.
Barbo statue. According to the legend, a terrible giant, called Druoon Antigoon, lived on the banks of the river Scheldt. He demanded tolls, when refused, he cut off the hands of offending sailors. A Roman soldier, Silvius Barbo, killed the giant and by cutting his hand off, he ended his reign of terror.
With a legend like this, great place to visit!
Brugge is next up. The best place to start are the two squares—Market square and Burg Square. Markt (Flemish) or Market Square is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the well preserved medieval buildings and famous belfry. You can climb the 366 or so stairs for awesome views of the city, but we prefer to listen to the bells from the ground of the square.
Burg Square houses the city hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood (built by a Crusader to store drops of the blood of Jesus he brought back from Jerusalem). You can easily see the wealth of this city at one time by studying the opulent, gilded buildings. The city hall is a Gothic structure that was built in the late 1300s, making it the oldest town hall in Belgium. Don't miss the upstairs Gotische Zaal (Gothic Room) with its ornate decor and wall murals depicting highlights from Bruges's history. Most spectacular of all is the vaulted oak ceiling, dating from 1402, which features scenes from the New Testament. Here are some photos of Burg Square:
Brussels is the 3rd square in Belgium. The Grand Place (Grote Markt)—a fine medieval square—considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. It is a pedestrian only zone, North West of Central Train Station. The square has a daily flower market and a weekly bird market. From April through September, there is a music and light show.
One of the buildings on the square is the Gothic Town Hall—the town hall was the only building left intact when the Grand Place was destroyed by the French in 1695. On top of the slim tower on the hall, St. Michael, the patron saint of Brussels, protects the town. Limited English tours (40 minute). Admission charge for the tour.
My favorite building on the square is the Municipal Museum in King’s House—this is not a royal residence, but a civic museum. It is located opposite the Town Hall across from the Grand Place. Among its collections are 18th and 19th century ceramics and tapestries. It also holds the collection of the costumes for Manneken Pis—that’s why I like this museum so much!
Czech Republic
In Prague, the wonderful Old Town Square is fun to visit.
Old Town Square-- famous for its historical monuments, Old Town Square is a Prague must-visit. Climb to the top of the 660-year-old Old Town Hall Tower for spectacular views of the Baroque-style St. Nicholas Church (north corner of the square, it has a fine interior), Gothic-style Church of Our Lady Before Tyn (twin towers) and Old Town itself. The Astronomical Clock (Orloj)--on the side of the Tower--consists of an astronomical dial embellished with zodiac symbols, a calendar dial and colorful, moving sculptures. As the clock chimes, biblical figurines come out, and spectators may watch the "Walk of the Apostles." An hourly bell toll features a figurine representing death. The clock comes to life from 0900 to 2100.
On the square is the Church of St. Nicholas--There are plenty of impressive Baroque churches in Prague, but the St. Nicholas church at the Old Town Square is one of the most beautiful thanks to the colorful frescoes, intricate ironwork and stucco that decorate the interior.
Old Town Hall--Prague's old Town Hall was built in 1364. The astronomical clock in the town hall's tower is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. Originally the building served only as the city hall of the old town, but later became the city hall for all of Prague. It is now only used for ceremonial functions. Hopefully the renovations are complete now, as it was covered up on my last visit.
We have visited several times, and led tours here at all times of the year. It never gets old—especially during the Christmas markets.
Estonia
In this small Baltic country, the old town area of Tallinn is a jewel not to be missed. The Medieval Old Town is wonderful. It’s mostly intact city wall includes 26 watchtowers, each topped by a pointy red roof. The Old Town is actually 2 towns that merged together after years of feuding—the upper and lower Old Towns.
Town Hall Square (in old town)--A marketplace through the centuries, Town Hall Square is the starting point for exploring Tallinn's Old Town. The 15th-century Town Hall dominates the square; climbing the tower earns a commanding view of the entire Old Town. It is in the lower old town.
Germany
3 great squares make my list in Germany.
Let’s begin with Freiburg.
Münsterplatz is a cobblestone square in front of the Freiburg Münster (Cathedral of Freiburg). This quaint churchyard has plenty of colorful buildings, most of which were reconstructed following the end of WW II. Besides the church, the Historical Merchants' Hall and Wentzinger House are some of the many historical buildings within the square.
Münstermarkt Freiburg is an open-air farmer’s market that takes over most of Münsterplatz. Normally, there are about 65 stalls selling fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables, and food items such as pastries, wines, and sausages. There are vendors selling woven baskets and other items. We bought some wonderful wooden utensils during one of our visits.
Next up is Munich.
Marien Platz—old town square, since 1158, is the place to gather in Munich. It is host to many festivals, and markets, especially the Christmas markets. It has a famous glockenspiel (1908), which performs at 1100 and 1200 all year. The story is of a 1500 wedding, of a Bavarian Duke (blue & white) and his French bride (red & white), knights and celebrations. The inspiration for this unique device is that jousting tournaments used to be held in the square.
In the center of the square is a statue dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Nuremberg also ranks high with me. The Market Square is a place of constant activity. It is home to one of the best Christmas market in all of Germany.
If not being renovated, the Schoner Brunnen--the Beautiful 19 meter Fountain on the edge of Market Square is quite impressive. There are two rings on the fence that are some popular legends about the power of the fountain. One is that if you turn the “golden ring” and make a wish, it will come true. The black ring, is said to bless women with children.
The market also has an impressive church on the square. Church of Our Lady constructed as an imperial royal chapel. Every day at noon the "Männleinlaufen" (mechanical clock and glockenspiel) chime to the delight of watchers below.
Italy
With a lot of choices, again I have 3 favorites here.
In Rome, Campo de Fiori is just awesome. The original name means field of flowers. During the day, it is best known for its flowers and fruit and vegetable markets.
After the sunsets, the area becomes a great meeting place since it has a wide variety of restaurants, cocktail bars and terraces.
We really like this area and try to visit when we are in Rome.
The next is St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. St. Peter's Square is a large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. In the center of the square is an ancient Egyptian Obelisk. The obelisk actually acts as a giant sundial.
Flanking either side of the square is a series of columns, which are to represent the welcoming arms of the church to the faithful. 284 columns and 88 pilasters that flank the square in a colonnade of four rows. Above the columns there are 140 statues of saints.
This is the home of the Vatican and the square is used for gathering of Catholics and religious ceremonies.
Venice, with its impressive San Marco Square should be visited at least once in your life. St. Mark’s Square—this is the most famous plaza in Venice. It is surrounded by sidewalk cafes and shops. A great way to visit this square is to arrive by gondola. Here are the most famous sight around the square:
Campanile—this is the dramatic bell tower overlooking St. Mark’s Square. Visitors can ride the elevator 300 feet to the top, but beware that when the bell chimes it can be an ear shattering event.
St. Mark’s Basilica—this Byzantine masterpiece sits by St. Mark’s square in the heart of Venice. It houses outstanding examples of mosaics and priceless works of art including the Pala d’Oro—a 10th century altar fashioned in gold and encrusted with precious gems. The exterior holds facsimiles of the four famous gilded horses. Free for the church, but Treasury, Golden Altar and San Marco Museum all charge separate admission.
Doge’s Palace—once the seat of government and the home of the Doges, the palace is a maze of grand halls that hold treasured works of art, including Tinotetto’s famed Paradise. Admission charge
Bridge of Sighs—connecting two wings of the Doge’s Palace—according to the legend, a condemned man would be led over the bridge on the way to prison and sigh.
Romania
The city of Brasov in Romania is square that I really enjoyed. The main square of Brasov is a great place to see people, eat and enjoy the buildings around this area. Town Hall Square has colorfully painted and ornately trimmed baroque structures. Perhaps the most famous sight is the Black Church, the largest gothic church in Romania. Its name comes from damage caused by the Great Fire of 1689, when flames and smoke blackened the walls of the church. The interior is impressive and well-kept and houses one of the largest organs in Eastern Europe
We had a great time during our stay.
San Marino
Although very tiny, I just really like the Liberty Square in this equally small country. San Marino is an enclave—totally surrounded by Italy. It is the oldest republic in the world.
In the center of the tiny square is the marble statue of liberty towering over a fountain. This is where citizens used to get water and the water is still drinkable today.
On the north side of the square is the city’s town hall, Palazzo Pubblico. It is modeled after buildings of the 13th and 14th century but was built in the 1900s. You can tour the hall and I just really liked the uniformed guard protecting this important building.
Cafes ring the east side—on the west is a protective defensive wall.
The folks of San Marino view this square as an important symbol of their fight for independence.
Spain
The most unusual square on my list is in Seville. Plaza de Espana was created in 1929. This monument was built for the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929.
It is truly a massive structure. It was created to showcase the achievements of Spain in industry and culture. Today it houses museums. It is often used in films as a good backdrop.
Sweden
Stockholm is the last of my 15 favorite squares.
Stortorget in the Gamla Stan—the old town is a medieval district with step-gabled buildings and cobblestone lanes. Stortorget, is the oldest square in Stockholm. Stortorget used to be the political heart of town until 1732, when the city hall was moved to the Bondeska Palace. In 1520, it witnessed a large execution as the Danish conqueror Kristian II had 82 Swedish dignitaries arrested and beheaded. It is a lot more fun to visit today.
My Final Thoughts
Wow—I hope you enjoyed this tour as much as I enjoyed writing it!
This is an amazing collection of squares but by no means the only one’s worth seeing in Europe. The hardest part of writing this was whittling down to a manageable number. Also, everyone has different tastes, so this may just be a starting place for your exploration. We would be proud to help you see any of these or other European squares.
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HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 49 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:
AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent
