These areas are listed in hundreds of guidebooks, they are visited annually by millions of tourists, and each is famous for its own indescribable atmosphere.
In today's Top 10 we put together the most famous squares of the world. The most interesting for fans of history and architecture will be the squares of old European cities, and for those who want to plunge into the heart of a huge metropolis, New York Times Square is suitable.
10. Old Town Square in Prague
The ancient square in the XII century was a large market at the crossroads of important trade routes. Today, the square is surrounded by the facades of houses in different architectural styles, and in the center is the city hall, on which the famous Prague chimes were installed in 1410. Every hour, crowds of tourists gather here to see a small puppet show taking place around the clock face.
9. Piazza San Marco in Venice
In Italy, this square is known simply as “Piazza”. San Marco is the lowest point in Venice, so as a result of heavy rainfall it often turns out to be completely flooded. One of the attractions of the square are pigeon flocks, which tourists feed with grains sold here and just bread crumbs.
8. Times Square in New York
This area is unique - there are video screens everywhere, LED advertising and hundreds of flashing lights. Times Square is most impressive in the dark, although during the day you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a huge vibrant city.
7. Tiananmen Square in Beijing
This is one of the largest squares in the world - its dimensions are 1000x500 meters. The name of the square is translated as “The Gate of Heavenly Peace”. The largest number of people gather here at 5 in the morning, when the state flag flies.
6. Plaza Mayor in Madrid
Centuries ago, this place was located outside the city walls and served as a bullfight. Today, the square has become an organic part of the Spanish capital, surrounded by attractions like the beautifully painted building of the Casa de la Panaderia and the former building of the Guild of Bakers.
5. Place de la Concorde in Paris
This famous square is located between the Tuileries Garden and the equally famous Champs Elysees. The peculiarity of this place is that it is not built up around the perimeter of buildings, so it offers magnificent views of the streets of Paris.
4. Trafalgar Square in London
The square is located in the center of the British capital and is an important traffic intersection. In the center of the square is the famous Nelson column, crowned with a statue of the great admiral. The building is surrounded by the London National Gallery, St. Martin's Church and several embassies. Since 2000, the City Hall of London has been working hard to rid the area of many pigeons.
3. St. Peter's Square in the Vatican
The main decoration of the square is St. Peter's Basilica. In the center of the square there is a high Egyptian obelisk brought to Rome during the time of Emperor Augustus in the 1st century BC. Crowds of Catholics regularly gather in the square to listen to the Pope's speeches.
2. Paris Square in Berlin
The square square is located in the historical center of the city. The main attraction of this square is the Brandenburg Gate. It was Paris Square that crowns the famous Unter den Linden boulevard. According to a special order of the government, the maximum height of buildings along the perimeter of the area does not exceed 22 meters.
1. Red Square in Moscow
Red Square has long been the main attraction not only in Moscow, but throughout Russia. St. Basil's Cathedral, the Historical Museum, the Mausoleum and the long brick walls of the Kremlin attract millions of tourists. The unique architecture of this ensemble is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its modern name, Red (that is, "beautiful"), received the square by the end of the VXII century.
