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All Italy Padua Prato della Valle

Prato della Valle

One of the largest squares in Europe contains an entire artificial island.

Padua, Italy

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Prato della Valle   Hannelore
Statues on the western side of Prato della Valle, in the foreground the statue of Antenor, the mythical founder of Padua.   Woudloper
Buildings on the western side of Prato della Valle.   Sakal33
Statues and buildings on the eastern side of Prato della Valle.   Szeder LászlĂł
The Abbey of Santa Giustina seen from the southern part of Isola Memmia.   Sorin Craciun
  abogadapascualaguilar / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Beautifu   cguthrie1950 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In the southern part of the city of Padua, the area where the 90,000-square-meter (1 million square foot) elliptical square Prato della Valle was a swampy terrain for many centuries.

In the late 18th century, Venetian politician Andrea Memmo decided to completely restructure the area. The project was ambitious, and was not realized in every aspect. An artificial elliptical canal surrounds an island, named Isola Memmia in honor of its creator. On the banks of this canal, a total of 78 statues (40 on the internal bank, 38 on the external one) represent famous figures linked to Padua, such as artists, scholars, warriors, and former leaders of the city. The original plan had included 88 statues, but some were destroyed.

Many buildings built between the 14th and 18th centuries surround Prato della Valle. On the southeastern corner of the square there is the Benedectine Abbey of Santa Giustina, established in the 10th century and attached to the Basilica of Santa Giustina, which was built in the 6th century. The excavations made in the 18th century to built the canal brought to light the remains of a long-forgotten roman theater.

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cguthrie1950, Julius Spada, abogadapascualaguilar

  • cguthrie1950
  • Julius Spada
  • abogadapascualaguilar

Published

June 2, 2018

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Sources
  • https://www.venetoinside.com/hidden-treasures/post/prato-della-valle-in-padua/
  • https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prato_della_Valle
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prato_della_Valle
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_of_Santa_Giustina
Prato della Valle
38 Prato della Valle
Padua, 35123
Italy
45.39844, 11.876521
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