Which are the largest squares in Italy
Unfortunately, finding a certain answer to this question is much more difficult than one might believe. To date, in fact, there is no official study with accurate data on the subject.
Not surprisingly, many of the rankings on the net differ from each other and above all report numbers that are inaccurate or not updated. We have tried to put some order, crossing and verifying data taken from various sources. In our list we have included both squares (urban portions whose perimeter is bordered by buildings on each side), and squares (urban portions not completely surrounded by buildings). Here is the result of our studies.
NB: The following ranking is not based on official data, therefore it is subject to continuous revisions and updates. We invite you to notify us of any changes and corrections in the comments, attaching your sources. We will be happy to evaluate possible additions. Thanks to all for the valuable contribution.
36 – Piazza Aurelio Saffi, Forli: 11,136 m2
Photo by piero drago. The square is the heart of the town and consists of the point where the four main courses intersect.
35 – Piazza San Marco, Venice: 12.128 m2
Year of construction 1156. Piazza San Marco is one of the most important in Venice. Inside it houses the Basilica from which it takes its name and the Bell Tower.
34 – Piazza Unita d’Italia, Trieste: 12,280 sq m
Heart of the Julian capital, it is located at the foot of the San Giusto hill, between Borgo Teresiano and Borgo Giuseppino. It houses several representative buildings including the Town Hall.
33 – Piazza della Repubblica, Naples: 16,000 m2
Photo of Baku. Year of construction 1897. In this square overlooking the seafront we can find the monument to the four days of Naples. To the southwest of the square is the building of the American consulate.
32 – Piazza dei Martiri, Carpi: 16,560 square meters.
Year of construction 1400. On the eastern side of the square the Castle or Palazzo Pio was built, a medieval style building.
31 – Piazza della Vittoria, Naples. 17,000 sqm
Photo by Armando Mancini. Built in 1646, in front of the square is the Chiesa della Vittoria from which it takes its name. Its name derives from the victory of the Christians in the battle of Lepanto fought against the Turks.
30 – Piazzale Loreto, Milan: over 17,000 square
meters Photo by Arbalete. Year of construction 1500. Near the square, in via Monza there is the Palazzo di Fuoco built by Giulio Minoletti in 1959. The square is sadly known for the exhibition of the corpses of Mussolini, his lover Claretta Petacci and some hierarchs fascists.
29 – Piazza Del Popolo, Rome: 17,100 m2
Year of construction 1818. Near the square we can find the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo, the Basilica of Santa Maria Montesanto and the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli.
28 – Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Monopoli: about 18,000 square meters
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is the main square of the city used for centuries as a meeting place for Monopoli. It was built in the late 1700s from the project of the architect De Simone. It was called “Borgo” by the inhabitants, because it was the square of the “new village” built beyond the walls of the old city, until it was named after King V. Emanuele II.
27 – Piazza Castello, Benevento: 18,200 m2
Photo by Antonio De Capua. Year of construction 1842. Inside we find a monument to the fallen of the First World War.
26 – Piazza Nazionale, Naples: 18,500 m2
Year of construction 1885. In the vicinity of the square we can see buildings built towards the end of the nineteenth century.
25 – Piazza Della Repubblica, Livorno: 19,000 m2
Photo by Luca Aless. Year of construction 1850. On the south side of the square there is the monument to the Grand Duke Ferdinand III of Tuscany. Originally it was named Piazza dei Granduchi, with the unification of Italy it was dedicated to Carlo Alberto of Savoy and only after the referendum of ’46 Piazza della Repubblica.
24 – Piazza della Magione, Palermo: 22,200 m2
Photo by Kalima. Year of construction 1191. In the south east side of the town we can find the homonymous Basilica from which the square takes its name.
23 – Piazza Duccio Galimberti, Cuneo: 24,000 m2
Photo by SchiDD. Year of construction 1800. This square was named after Tancredi (Duccio) Galimberti, hero of the resistance during the fascist period.
22 – Piazza Bra, Verona: about 25,000 square meters.
Photo by Italo-Europeo. Built in 1550. On the western side of the square is the Honorij Palace.
21 – Piazza Del Plebiscito, Naples: over 25,000 square meters
Photo by Michael Paraskevas. Year of construction 1602. Inside the square we find Palazzo Salerno and Palazzo della Prefettura. Only in 1860 was it definitively called Piazza del Plebiscito.
20 – Piazza Del Mercato, Naples: 28,000 m2
Photo of Baku. Year of construction 1268. In this square there is the fountain of the Dolphins. This place was famous for the beginning of the Neapolitan revolt led by Masaniello.
19 – Piazza Duomo, Milan: 28,500 sq m
Year of construction 1330. In this square we find the famous Duomo which gives it its name and the equestrian monument to Vittorio Emanuele II.
18 – Piazza D Azeglio, Florence: 30,000 m2
Photo by sailko. Year of construction 1860. Here in addition to a small playground there is a monument to the memory of three partisans killed by the fascists. The square in 1866 was named after the writer and politician Massimo D’Azeglio.
17 – Piazza Della Liberta, Salerno: 31,000 m2
Photo by Jack45. Year of construction 2012. Near the square we can find the Maritime Station and the Santa Teresa Beach.
16 – Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Turin: 31,000 sq m
Photo by Gianni Careddu. Year of construction 1333. The square is the meeting place of Turin’s youth and therefore there are no buildings or historical monuments but only bars and clubs.
16 – Piazza Mercatale, Prato: 32,294 m2
Photo by Sansa55. Located in the center, it was the place where the city market was held until the 1970s. Already in the Middle Ages it was considered one of the largest squares in Europe.
15 – Piazza San Giovanni In Laterano, Rome: 33,000 m2
Photo by MrPanyGoff. Year of construction 1732. In the square we find the famous Basilica from which it takes its name. Inside the Basilica of San Giovanni in 1929 the Lateran pacts were signed between Mussolini and the church.
14 – Piazza Castello, Turin: 35,000 sq m
Photo by chensiyuan. Year of construction 1583. Inside are the Palazzo della Prefettura and the royal armory.
13 – Piazza Del Municipio, Naples: 42,000 m2
Photo by Palickap. Year of construction 1300. In the square we can find the Town Hall from which it takes its name.
12 – Piazza Dei Cinquecento, Rome: 45,000 m2
Photo by pietro scerrato. Year of construction 1550. It is located in front of Termini Station and inside you can see the monument to John Paul II. Here there is also the Gambrinus Bar where the meeting took place between Pasolini and Pino Pelosi who killed him a few hours later.
11 – Piazza Del Colosseo, Rome: 45,500 sqm
Photo by WolfgangM from. Year of construction 1000. The square is famous for the Colosseum one of the most visited attractions in the world.
10 – Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Rome: 54.954 sq m.
Year of construction 1871. In the square you can see a market and a garden where the Magic Door is located, that is the entrance to the house of an alchemist.
9 – Piazza Dante, Livorno: 59,000 m2
Year of construction 1911. Near the square we find the central station of Livorno.
8 – Spianata Del Foro Italico, Palermo: 62,500 m2
Photo of Foro_Italico_9.jpg. Year of construction 1846. Here we can see the music box at the Marina which initially hosted Sunday concerts.
7 – Piazza Campo del Palio, Asti: 66,000 sq m
Year of construction 1382. The rear part of the prefecture building overlooks the square. The name derives from the Palio that took place in this square until 1988.
6 – Piazza Garibaldi, Naples: 70,000 m2
Photo by Sailko. Year of construction 1870. This name derives from the statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi which is located in the square. In ancient times it was called piazza della Stazione or railway. Even today the Neapolitans are used to calling it “a ‘Ferrovia”
5 – Piazza della Repubblica, Milan: 73,500 m2
Photo by Leonardo Rizzi. Year of construction 1865. In the square you can see the Breda Tower and the monument to Giuseppe Mazzini.
4 – Largo Marinai d’Italia, Milan: 78,500 sq m
Year of construction 1911. The wide area also includes the Vittorio Formentano Park and the Liberty Building.
3 – Piazza Prato Della Valle, Padua: 88,620 sq m
Photo by Hannelore. Year of construction 1784. In the square we find an elliptical island called Memmia island.
2 – Piazza Castello, Milan: 95,000 m2
Photo by fotogoocom. Year of construction 1400. The name of the square derives from the Castello Sforzesco, one of the most important monuments in the city of Milan.
1 – Piazza Carlo III di Borbone, Caserta: over 130,000 square meters
Photo by Carlo Pelagalli. Year of construction 1750. In the first place we find Piazza Carlo III in Corbone. This square is famous because inside there is the Royal Palace of Caserta.
