“City of saint without name”, “meadow without grass”, “café without door” – these nicknames people of the Padua use to call their city. And one of the reasons why they do it – is that the city has the biggest square in the Italy called Prato della Valle.
Prato della Valle (another name of the square – is just the “Pra”) witnessed a lot of events during the time of own existence. In the ancient times, when Padua was under the Romans rule, here was the big theater which could hold 6400 spectators and on the another part of the square was the Field of Mars where young men of Padua trained to be a good Roman soldiers.
In the 5 century, when Padua suffered from the enormous barbarian attacks, theater was destroyed and during a long time used as the source for the building materials. In the middle ages the Prato della Valle was used for the different celebrations, church ceremonies and entertainments. For example, here was the famous celebration in honor of Federico Second which took place in the 1239.
In 1257 at Pra began conducting the local “palio” (horse race, with simplified rules).
Also in the middle ages Prato della Valle served as the city’s center of commerce and hosted exhibitions and fairs. Its modern look Pra gained in 1775 after the reconstruction which was led under the supervision of the Domeniko Cherato. Domeniko contrived the channel which splits the square and makes the island in the center of the Prato della Valle.
Along the channel were set 78 statues of the famous men of Padua. Initially there were 88 statues but when the Padua was occupied by Napoleon troops he ordered to destroy the statues of Venetian doges.
When you will visit Prato della Valle don't miss the old houses which surround the square. Many of them were built in the time when Padua was under the Venetian rule and have Venetian influence.
Today the square still used for the different kind of celebrations. Often you can hear live music and witness different entertainments. And at the week-end the square hosts local market, may be the biggest in the Italy.
