In the last post I talked a bit about Europe’s most emblematic streets, and this time I thought I’d take the topic a bit further and talk about its most gorgeous squares. My criteria are fairly simple; they need to be architecturally stunning and have a handful of outdoors cafes from which you can enjoy their beauty.
Probably the grand dame of all European squares is Venice’s San Marco, a simply divine stage surrounded by richly detailed baroque and renaissance architecture, including the basilica of
the same name. Has there anyone that has not been captivated by it? I actually prefer it at night, when tourists have retired to their hotels and the resident pigeons have flown home. To admire its beauty you can’t beat an outdoor table at the Florian, a café seeped in the city’s history.
Also in Italy, Rome’s Piazza Navona has Bernini’s gorgeous fountain, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi as a centrepiece surrounded by sumptuous palazzi. As the foal point of the centro storico, it’s also busy most of the time. My favourite thing to do here is buy a gelato and sit of the edge the fountain to watch the passing parade.
In Barcelona, the Plaça Reial, just off Las Ramblas has a faded glory that is particularly lovely during the day, whilst Madrid’s Plaza del Sol, scene of medieval bullfights, never fails to impress with its perfect symmetry.
In Paris, the Place de la Concorde, is the largest in the French capital and of course has the famous Obelisk. But my personal favourite is the Place de l’Opera, with the beautiful opera house and the Café de Paris, one of the nicest terrace-cafes in the city.
Probably the grand dame of all European squares is Venice’s San Marco, a simply divine stage surrounded by richly detailed baroque and renaissance architecture, including the basilica of
the same name. Has there anyone that has not been captivated by it? I actually prefer it at night, when tourists have retired to their hotels and the resident pigeons have flown home. To admire its beauty you can’t beat an outdoor table at the Florian, a café seeped in the city’s history.Also in Italy, Rome’s Piazza Navona has Bernini’s gorgeous fountain, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi as a centrepiece surrounded by sumptuous palazzi. As the foal point of the centro storico, it’s also busy most of the time. My favourite thing to do here is buy a gelato and sit of the edge the fountain to watch the passing parade.
In Barcelona, the Plaça Reial, just off Las Ramblas has a faded glory that is particularly lovely during the day, whilst Madrid’s Plaza del Sol, scene of medieval bullfights, never fails to impress with its perfect symmetry.
In Paris, the Place de la Concorde, is the largest in the French capital and of course has the famous Obelisk. But my personal favourite is the Place de l’Opera, with the beautiful opera house and the Café de Paris, one of the nicest terrace-cafes in the city.
