Prato Della Valle

Prato Della Valle

Prato Della Valle
4.5
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  • ANGELO V
    Milan, Italy4,957 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Largest square in Padova
    Prato della Valle is the largest square in the city of Padua, with a surface area of 88620 square meters (over 950000 square foot). The current configuration dates back to the 18th century and is characterized by a central elliptical island, called Memmia island, surrounded by a canal on whose banks there is a double ring of 78 statues. A precise regulation established the rules for the creation of the statues: living people could not be portrayed, saints could not be portrayed, and all the characters portrayed had to have a connection with the city. In most cases they are university professors, artists, leaders or former rulers of the city. Some very famous people pictured include Antenore (the mythical founder of the city), writer Torquato Tasso, admiral Vettor Pisani, painter Andrea Mantegna, Pope Paul II (Pietro Barbo), Pope Eugene IV (Gabriele Condulmer), poet Ludovico Ariosto, poet Francesco Petrarca, scientist Galileo Galilei, Roman historian Titus Livius, Gustavus II Adolfus King of Sweden, Pope Alexander VIII (Pietro Ottoboni), Pope Clemens XIII (Carlo Rezzonico), sculptor Antonio Canova, writer and historian Francesco Guicciardini, John III Sobieski King of Poland, Francesco Morosini Doge of Venice. Unfortunately, on the day I visited, it was raining cats and dogs, so I could not fully appreciate.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written February 28, 2024
  • PPCI-BG
    Bergamo, Italy124,858 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    unfortunately it was crowded
    The Prato della Valle is the largest square in Padua. It has always been a market place and was redeveloped in the eighteenth century, creating an oval island surrounded by a canal on whose banks there are numerous statues of illustrious Paduans. Unfortunately when we were there it was crowded with market stalls and we couldn't fully enjoy it.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled on business
    Written March 5, 2024
  • Paolo Z
    Rome, Italy260 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful
    Huge square, I believe among the largest in Europe, which also has the majestic cathedral of Santa Giustina on the corner. Surrounded by statues around the moat, it is a corner of peace within this splendid city. As a lover of ancient Rome it reminded me of the Decumanus and Cardo. The cardo intersected with the decumanus, that is, the road that crossed the camp or the city in an east-west direction.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 22, 2024
  • puffettablu
    Bergamo, Italy1,786 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unmissable
    How beautiful is this place!!! It is located a 10/15 minute walk from the historic center, but it is absolutely worth seeing. It is a large square, second in size in Europe; at its center there is an elliptical island, surrounded by a canal adorned with 78 statues of famous people. I really enjoyed staying here.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 31, 2024
  • Massimiliano P
    Novara, Italy47,284 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The largest square in Padua
    Prato della Valle, more than a square, can be defined as a large monumental space of particularly original design. The area has an elliptical shape and is surrounded by a canal, whose banks are decorated with a large number of statues, dedicated to illustrious historical figures. Four bridges over the canal allow access to the central green area, cut in four by two avenues and with a fountain in the middle. Some very scenic buildings surround the square, such as the Basilica of Santa Giustina and the Loggia Amulea. Prato della Valle rises close to the historic center and in consideration of the fact that it has now become a symbol for the city of Padua, as well as for its beauty and originality, it is definitely worth a visit.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 4, 2024
  • Luca012_10
    Biella, Italy1,184 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A square full of charm
    A meeting place for the whole city A place to walk and maybe sit and read a good book even if it is very crowded A breathing space for the city Too bad only for the channel that I think would need more maintenance, too dirty even if I understand that the incivility of people is sometimes difficult to contain
    Visited November 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 3, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
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Thombly
Bologna, Italy1,667 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Years ago it was one of the city's degraded spaces. Now it has been regenerated, cleaned and people - both locals and tourists - frequent it all day long. Very large, with various historic buildings on its edges. We were expecting more little places with outdoor tables, which instead are relatively few. Watch out for traffic and bicycles!
Google
Written October 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SiboSilvia
Carmagnola, Italy1,897 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
For us it was the calling card for the city. We recommend parking in the Via Carducci area... some are free. Arriving in this square you are a stone's throw from the center. When we arrived it was full of stalls. At other times it can be seen in its purity of garden with bridges, canal, green lawn and statues, a suggestive place from which the Church of S. Antonio and S. Giustina can be seen.
Google
Written August 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ak871 đź—ş
Muenster, Germany1,140 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
A beautiful place to just relax. I couldn't resist looking through all the names on the statues to see who I knew and who I didn't.

Padova itself is a lovely and welcoming city that hasn't really been affected by overtourism. So a trip to authentic northern Italy, called Padova, is absolutely worth it.

It's wonderful to visit by public transport from Venice - cheap and quick!

We really had a lot of fun here! Thank you, Padova!
Google
Written October 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

marcolao
Catania, Italy97 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
You have to be from Padua, and in love, to define Prato della Valle as a beautiful square! It is a beautiful clearing, and will be so for some time until the trees planted there grow. For the rest, I find it cold, impersonal, just very airy and of enormous proportions. There is no connection to the city. Over time we hope that the venues that are springing up around it will give him that warmth and liveliness that other squares have and that he deserves.
Google
Written May 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robert O
Rotterdam, The Netherlands6,609 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
Italy's largest square is just south of the old city. It has the form of an oval and is decorated with no less than 78 statues! During the 1630s the swampy area was turned into a theatre ground and a venue for mock battles on horseback. Musicians who cheered up the crowds of spectators are believed to be the precursors of what later evolved as opera.

During my visit there were lots of stalls where local delicacies were sold. Good to have a large space near the center where people can gather and relax or undertake other activities.
Written September 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Scott Dittmer
105 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
We happened upon this wonderous site while headed to the botanical gardens. As it happened, there was a HUGE open air flea market that filled the entire space. While we wandered through the various booths seeing what wares were being offered, we forgot to walk through the botanical gardens. The area was so full of energy and excitement, it was an experience just to watch and listen.

Hopefully you'll get to experience the market but, if not, enjoy the gardens sine they're beautiful with the manicured grasses, water and bridges.
Written October 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Denny S
Gothenburg, Sweden176 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
It is difficult to rate this really because it is unique and unlike anything else. The elliptical square is the largest in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. In the middle, there is a park area, l'isola Memmia, surrounded by a small canal bordered by two rings of statues. There are 78 statues, 40 in the outer ring and 38 in the inner. The statues depict important people who have been connected to Padua in some way such as the artist Andrea Mantegna, the poet Francesco Petrarca, Scientist Gallileo Galilei, the sculptor Antonio Canova, various popes and many others. Four beautiful bridges lead across the canal. Around the square are several palaces and residential buildings that were built between the 14th and the 18th centuries. At the southern end of the square is the huge church Basilica di Santa Giustina. It's a very nice place indeed, but in my opinion, it lacks a bit of identity. It can not really decide what it wants to be. A square? A park? A monument? The size also makes it look a bit deserted.
Written October 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rosannt2016
65 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
The first time I visited this park I was 15 years old and vowed to return every time I went to Italy. Now I am almost 60 I kept my word and it remains one of my favourite places in the world.
You can have a picnic, you can play music, you can play soccer, you can read, or just walk around and enjoy the statues.
Written May 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Olivia P
Canberra, Australia23 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
If you want to experience an authentic Italian city that hasn’t been taken over by Tourism, go to Padua. 37 minute travel time to Venice. Trains between. Spend a day here. Great way to spend an afternoon sitting in the sun in the park. Relaxing and beautiful. Keep away from the Italian smokers
Written September 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mireille K
Bordeaux, France49 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
This park in the middle of Padua is magnificent.
I don't know of another place so large with so many statues and greenery.
We don't feel like we're in the middle of this big city.
Walking around the park also allows you to see very beautiful facades all around.
Google
Written October 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Prato Della Valle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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