Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Italy is famous for many things—art, architecture, fashion, food and wine; even some of its empty spaces, in the form of piazzas, are known worldwide, with places like Piazza San Marco in Venice and Piazza di Spagna in Rome drawing millions of visitors each year. Having evolved from Greek-era agoras and Roman forums , piazzas, over the centuries, became integral to commerce and civic and religious life, and they continue to serve as vital gathering spots to this day. While each piazza is unique and frequently flanked by significant architectural works, they often have similar names, so it’s not unusual to find a Piazza del Duomo or Piazza della Republica from one town to the next.
Here are six piazzas to discover (listed alphabetically by city or town), renowned in their areas but not necessarily on the radar of many international travelers. Fall is a good time to check them out as cities wake from their summer slumber, tourists drift away, and residents return from vacation to take up daily routines. Amalfi: Piazza del Duomo Piazza del Duomo in Amalfi.
getty While Capri’s jet-setty Piazzetta may be the buzziest square along the Amalfi Coast, the town of Amalfi’s Piazza del Duomo , named for its proximity to the local cathedral, is another lively plaza sprinkled with restaurants and cafes, where visitors come to take in the local scene (and become part of it) while relaxing with a lemon granita or limoncello cocktai.