Our handpicked selection of beautiful piazzas in Italy to see at least once in a lifetime!
If your dream of Italy involves indulging in a beautiful Italian square, sipping aperitivo while watching life gp by against the backdrop of beautiful architecture, this article is for you!
Italy is full of beautiful piazzas, some grand and famous, some lesser known and more subdued. However, some piazzas in Italy stand out for beauty, history, uniqueness or all of the above.
Out of the many beautiful squares in Italy, today I made this short list of those that I believe are so special, you simply cannot miss them.
These are my favorite piazzas in Italy, bases on my own travel experience!
Beautiful piazzas in Italy chart
| Name of Piazza | Town/City | Region |
| Piazza San Marco | Venice | Veneto |
| Piazza del Duomo, Milan | Milan | Lombardy |
| Piazza della Signoria, Florence | Florence | Tuscany |
| Piazza dell’anfiteatro | Lucca | Tuscany |
| Piazza dei Miracoli | Pisa | Tuscany |
| Piazza del Campo | Siena | Tuscany |
| Piazza del Duomo Orvieto | Orvieto | Umbria |
| Piazza San Pietro | Vatican City/Rome | Lazio |
| Piazza Navona | Rome | Lazio |
| Piazza del Campidoglio | Rome | Lazio |
| Piazza di Spagna | Rome | Lazio |
| Piazza Pius II | Pienza | Tuscany |
| Piazza delle Sorgenti | Bagno Vignoni | Tuscany |
| Piazza Grande | Montepulciano | Tuscany |
| Poazza del Duomo, Siracusa | Siracusa | Sicily |
| Piazza del Duomo, Amalfi | Amalfi | Campania |
| PIazza Plebiscito | Martina Franca | Puglia |
| Piazza Mincio | Rome | Lazio |
18 beautiful piazzas in Italy you will love
In no particular order, these are squares in Italy I recommend you see.
Piazza San Marco, Venice
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/UeY9AntaSJqypoaR9
Piazza San Marco is the main Piazza in Venice and the one you see most often captured in photos of Venice.
Piazza San Marco is the large square with the famous San Marco Basilica, the Venice Bell Tower and the Doge’s Palace and one of the most beautiful and important public spaces in Venice.
The square is organised in two main areas: one, right in front of the basilica, feels like an elegant living room.
Its sides have beautiful porticoes with some of Venice’s most elegant cafes, and the St Mark’s basilica facade adds a touch of uniqueness and beauty that you do not find anywhere else in Italy.
The second part of the square is equally beautiful but feels very different. Here, you find famous Doges’ Palace and a stunning view over the Grand Canal.
Venice fun fact: Piazza San Marco is not the only square in Venice but the only one called ‘piazza’. The others are called ‘campo’ or ‘campiello’, the local name for a square, respectively a large one and a small one!
You can read how to include Piazza San Marco in your Venice itinerary here.
Piazza del Duomo, Milan
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/KZTGCuabVSRbgDsM7
Piazza del Duomo is the main square in Milan city center and one of Italy’s grandest and most famous.
The square is huge and it is dominated by Milan’s cathedral (Milan’s Duomo), one of the most unique gothic churches in the country.
The square is a sight to behold.
Very large and airy, the square has the duomo on one side, characterised by tall gothic spires and one of the most elaborate carved facades you can imagine, and also hosts the entrance to the famous Milan’s Galleria, the elegant covered passage famous for shops, cafes and a beautiful glass ceiling.
In the center of the piazza there is the statue of King Vittorio Emanuele II, which adds an extra touch of solemnity to a piazza already among the grandest in Italy.
You can learn how to include Piazza Duomo in your Milan itinerary here.
Piazza della Signoria, Florence
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/zBuJHXwuNGMMc3zu5
Florence has many piazzas fighting for the title of most beautiful and we will inevitably discontent someone choosing only one (Piazza del Duomo, or Piazzale Michelangelo anyone?) however, I find Piazza della Signoria to be one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy!
What I love about it is the fantastic view you get of the stunning Palazzo Vecchio, the seat of the Florentine Government, still crowned by it medieval tower, but a Los the fact that, no matter where you look, you have stunning art staring back at you!
In front of Palazzo Vecchio you have a beautiful replica of Michelangelo’s David.
To its side, you find a fantastic fountains with a gorgeous statue of Neptune.
Right across it again, you have the breathtaking Loggia dei Lanzi, a true open air museum with incredible sculpture and one of the very best things to see in Florence!
If you are in this piazza, you can sit at one of the many cafes and watch locals and tourists alike as they go about their day, walking along this marvel of architecture.
A perfect piazza for the perfect Italian moment!
You can learn how to include piazza della Signoria in your Florence itinerary here.
Piazza dell’anfiteatro, Lucca
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/UeY9AntaSJqypoaR9
Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is a peculiare, beautiful piazza in Lucca, a small town in the north of tuscany famous for its beautiful city walls and for being the place of birth of composer Puccini.
This piazza is unique in Italy as it is built over the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater, of which still maintains the shape!
The amphitheater was in use during Roman times and then went though a long period of decline, during which it was used as a quarry.
Slowly, what remained of it was used to build houses and, as you step into the square, you feel as if you entered the Colosseum, except you have houses around you instead of seats!
The piazza now hosts many restaurants and cafes and is one of Lucca’s most pleasant parts for visitors big and small.
You can read how to see this piazza when visiting Lucca here.
Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/ddhrcQdz9LoCpH1D8
Piazza dei Miracoli is the square with the famous leaning tower of Pisa and one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy.
Many find Piazza dei Miracoli overwhelming due to the crowds that flock here especially in high season, however, I find it so unique, so beautiful and so breathtaking, I feel not even mass tourism can ruin it!
The piazza develops as a large green lawn with several armpnin buildings on it: Pisa’s Duomo, Pisa’s leaning tower (which is the Duomo’s bell tower) and the beautiful baptistry, 3 buildings designed together and forming one cohesive architectural complex.
Near then you also find the monumental Cemetery (Pisa’s Camposanto), which is often ignored by visitors but is a place of great beauty and the home of an important cycle of frescos that should not be missed.
You can find our tips for visiting Pisa here.
Piazza del Campo, Siena
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/4Kivs4gBZ8NDrjaB7
Piazza del Campo is the main medieval square in Siena, one of Tuscany’s most beautiful and famous medieval towns.
The square was the center of Siena’s public life during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the time when Siena reached the peak of its power over the surrounding countryside and it is still now an important landmark and one of the main attractions in the city (the other is the Duomo, stunning, nearby).
Piazza del Campo has a peculiar shape that recalls that of a shell, it is dominated by the tall Palazzo Pubblico and the even taller Torre del Mangia (Mangia’s tower) and it is home to a beautiful monumental fountains called Fonte Gaia, by renaissance artist Jacopo della Quercia.
The Piazza si a sight to behold.
As you enter, you first notice the red and pink hues of the bricks that make the piazza and you cannot help but feel that the square fells like it is embracing you, leading your eyes and footsteps towards its most important part, the entrance to the palace.
Piazza del Campo on a normal day sees visitors and hosts restaurants and cafes however once a year turns back to being a medieval square and hosts the Palio, Siena’s most famous tradition.
You can learn how to visit Piazza del Campo in our guide to Siena here.
Piazza del Duomo, Orvieto
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/xvDFU9n4iMwDCrdG6
Piazza del Duomo is the main piazza in Orvieto, a stunning hilltop town in the equally stunning Italian region of Umbria.
Piazza del Duomo takes the name for the presence of Orvieto’s cathedral (=duomo) which is a construction so unique, it makes is one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy.
The duomo is a marvel of gothic architecture and has a stunning facade with elaborate carvings and beautiful mosaics that add a fanatics and unexpected touch of color to this grand and unique structure.
The piazza around the duomo develops as a large space with many shops and restaurants, lots of space for visitors to admire the church and it is a wonderful place to sit and watch life pass by!
You can learn how to visit Piazza Duomo in our guide to Orvieto.
Piazza San Pietro, Rome
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/suPD7aUU8xdFTmoL7
Piazza San Pietro is the monumental square in Vatican City (within Rome) with St Peter’s basilica and it is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture.
The square was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, one of Rome’s most talented and prolific artists, and is a masterpiece of beauty and engineering.
The square has an elliptical shape and two curved colonnades frame it.
Bernini designed them to represent two wings or arms welcoming and embracing the visitors heading to the church.
Rome fun fact: The colonnade is built by Bernini to hide a secret: depending on your position in the square, you may see all of the columns or you may see some of them disappear, thanks to a visual trick applied by their designer!
In the middle of the square there are two fountains and an ancient obelisk and the overall structure leads the eye of the visitor to the entrance of St peter’s basilica, the focal point of the whole design.
You can learn more about Piazza San Pietro and how to visit
Piazza Navona, Rome
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/X1pQB6AvT2ZzUzGn8
Piazza Navona is the monumental square in Rome with the famous fountain of the four rivers and teh bauigul church of Santa Agnese in Agone.
It is one of the most beautiful piazzas in Rome if not the most beautiful and it has a peculiar history.
As the shape of the piazza still shows, the square was originally a Roman circus, destined to host chariot races.
Over the course of the centuries however, this use was dismissed and he square became a public space for market days and pubic gatherings.
In the XVII century, the Pope decided to upgrade the look of the piazza and commanded the creations of sculptures and fountains to embellish it.
Bernini and, later, Borromini both contributed to the appearance of the Piazza as we see it now and turned into one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy.
You can learn more about Piazza Navona here and why it is a Rome must see here
Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/K8zfmerDcQeoxSer8
Piazza del Campidoglio is monumental square in Rome designed by Michelangelo.
The square sits at the top of the Capitoline Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome, and has origins that date back to the very foundations of Rome.
The piazza as we see it now however only took shape in the 1500s, when Michelangelo was commissioned works to upgrade its appearance.
Completely redesigning the space, Michelangelo turned this piazza into and elegant space with a monumental staircase (la cordonata), three beautiful palazzi, two statues of the Dioscuri and one equestrian statue in the center representing Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
The square is stunning and one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy so much so, that it appears on the Italian 50c euro coin!
You can read more about Piazza del Campidoglio and how to visit
Piazza di Spagna, Rome
One more Rome square but one that cannot miss from a list of the most beautiful and famous piazzas in Italy is Piazza di Spagna, home to the famous Spanish Steps!
A monumental piazza in Rome city center, Piazza di Spagna, as we see it now, dates from 1725, the time when the famous steps were built and it is a treasure trove of attractions.
Here you have the Steps, which act as access point to the beautiful church of Trinita’ de’ Monti, that gives the square its special skyline and you also have the barcaccia, one of the most famous fountains in Rome made by Bernini (both of them, father and son!).
You can learn how to include Piazza di Spagna in your Rome itinerary here.
Piazza Pio II, Pienza
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/W5yPXWrzKRGUyZdX9
Piazza Pio II is in Pienza, a gorgeous hilltop town in tuscany and it is more than just one of the prettiest piazzas in Italy: it is the ‘perfect’ piazza too!
If this sounds like a bold claim, it is worth putting it in context.
Pienza and this piazza in particular were specifically designed to exemplify the ideal city according to Humanist standards and it was designed and built by order of Pope Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pope Pius II), who ordered the upgrade.
The piazza is indeed lovely and the harmony of its different parts unmissable.
You can learn more about Pienza and its significance in our guide to Pienza here.
Piazza delle Sorgenti, Bagno Vignoni
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/Q5jGVUbR6aAwBZsG7
Piazza delle Sorgenti is one of the most peculiar piazzas in Italy you can ever see as its center is made of water!
The piazza lies in the center of the smallvillage of Bagno Vignoni, famous for being home to some of the best hot springs in Tuscany, and gives homage to this water vocation of the town having in its center a large pool!
The pool is hot and beautiful, especially on a winter night, when the heat of the water turns vapour and gives the piazza a mystical appearance.
You can learn how to visit this piazza in our guide to Bagno Vignoni.
Piazza Grande, Montepulciano
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/XTNen4is75dg1ED66
Piazza Grande is the square at the very top of the town of Montepulciano, one of the most beautiful small towns in Tuscany and, I believe, in Italy!
The piazza is dominated by a grand medieval Palazzo somewhat reminiscent in architecture to that of Siena’s Piazza del Campo and also has a beautiful church and an impressive historical well.
The impression on the first time visitor is very strong: the piazza is made of stone and envelops you in earthy, warm tones that make you feel one with the place!
You can enjoy the square simply waking around it, sitting at one of the many cafes here or you can even enjoy a concert here in summer, when the square turns musical stage!
You can read how to visit this piazza in our guide to Montepulciano.
Piazza del duomo, Siracusa
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/vuCy2zgGuAVWPymW7
Piazza del Duomo is one of those piazzas in Italy that are so beautiful, you have to see it to believe it.
The piazza is in the old center of Siracusa, in the area called Ortygia, and it I dominated by Siracusa’s duomo, a wonderful church with a stunning cream coloured facade in baroque style.
The color of the duomo is the dominant one in the whole piazzas, with is a binding vision of cream beauty.
The large square offers ample space to local cafes to host large terraces and it is the perfect place to sit and watch life go by.
You can read how to visit this square in our guide to Siracusa here.
Piazza del Duomo, Amalfi
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/8zNxechPTwAvpqmA7
Piazza del Duomo is the center of the town of Amalfi and one of the best piazzas in Italy if what you are looking for is an aperitivo in the sun.
The piazza is dominated by the beautiful Amalfi Duomo and it is entirely surrounded by lively cafes and restaurants offering beautiful views over its facade.
The square is also home to the famous fountain of St Andrea, one of the most peculiar and distinctive in amalfi and a welcome source of free draining water for the tirstry visitor!
You can learn how to visit this piazza in our guide to Amalfi town.
Piazza Plebiscito, Martina Franca
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/oGLFiZw8WE7kyFQv6
Piazza Plebiscito in Martina Franca may not be the best known of Italy’s piazza but it is one I love and I find incredibly beautiful.
The piazza is in the heart of Martina Franca, one of the most beautiful small towns in Italy, it feels like an elegant living room. The main area is surrounded by beautiful porticoes and the white and cream color of both walls and polished grournds make it look like a ballroom more than a public area!
You can learn how to visit this piazza in our guide to Martina Franca.
Piazza Mincio, Rome
Address and map: https://goo.gl/maps/R6NSckKHVhgn1GsTA
I close this list of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy with small Piazza Mincio in Rome, which I believe deserves a place in the list due to its peculiarity: it is a perfect example of architecture by Gino Coppede’ who had a very peculiar take on Art Deco that makes his work unique.
The piazza is at the center of a small neighbourhood created by Coppede and it is dominated by a small fountain with carved frogs, that act as a focal point.
Around it, several palazzi frame the space, each with peculiar carvings or decorations: one looks like a medieval fairyhouse, one has a grand entrance that evokes the grandest of past civilisations and another one has a huge spider as decoration!
The piazza is unique in its genre and a must see for architecture loevrs.
You can learn more about Piazza Mincio in our guide to the Coppede’ District.
I could name many more beautiful piazzas in Italy but these are those that have many my shortlist so far! I hope you enjoyed them and this article inspired you to go visit. Safe travel planning!
This post was published in 2020 and has been fully updated with new photos and maps in April 2023
