☰Prato della Valle

One of Europe's largest squares — an elliptical space ringed by a canal and 78 statues of notable figures connected to Padua. It started as a Roman theatre, spent centuries as a marshy fairground, and was redesigned in the 1770s into the grand public space it is today. On Saturdays, a large market fills the centre. In the evening it is a popular gathering spot for students. The surrounding buildings include the Basilica di Santa Giustina, worth a look for its scale and its quiet interior.