Padovans love this enormous square, the largest in Italy and one of the largest in Europe, and call it simply Il Prato. It was once a big swamp, then a grounds for jousting tournaments when, in the late 1700s, Andrea Memmo, whose palace still overlooks the square, conceived of a large plaza and park, and work began on the public space you see today. At its center is a green park surrounded by a canal; along its banks stand 78 statues, including one of Memmo. The Prato della Valle is a popular place for sunning, strolling, skating, and socializing, as well as for markets and holiday celebrations. Several notable buildings surround it, including the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Giustina, the Neoclassical Loggia Amulea, and palaces dating from the 14th to 18th centuries. If you’re wondering where to eat, you’ll find several restaurants surrounding the square.