Main Square (Piazza Grande) — Attraction in Palmanova

Piazza Grande is also known as Piazza d’Armi and it’s the hexagonally shaped center of Palmanova, a star-shaped fortress town in northeastern Italy. Its six-sided form from which radial streets emanate gives the town its distinctive star shape. Palmanova was built by the Venetians around 1593 as a sophisticated defensive stronghold against Turks to the east and Austria to the north. A tall flagpole known as the stendardo is in the center of the Piazza Grande. It is nicknamed “Mario” by locals and has held various ensigns through history—Venetian, French, Austrian, and now Italian.

Encircling the piazza is the Duomo Dogale (Church of the Most Holy Redeemer), with a deliberately low bell tower to avoid aid for besiegers, Palazzo del Provveditore Generale (now the town hall), Loggia della Gran Guardia, Palazzo del Monte di Pietà, and Palazzo del Governatore delle Armi—all exemplify austere military architecture.

Around the piazza are eleven statues, each representing one of the General Provveditori (Venetian governors) of the fortress.

Today, Piazza Grande is a vibrant neighborhood hub—ideal for leisurely strolls, sipping coffee, or snapping photos of its near-perfect symmetry. It hosts a range of events: historical reenactments in July, fairs in early autumn for Saint Justina’s feast, and more throughout the year . The grand flagpole is lit up in the shape of a Christmas tree in December and there are concerts, and even line dancing frequently.

Palmanova is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s very bike and family friendly and wonderful for taking scenic hikes around the exterior ramparts. It is definitely worth a visit.

Visit “The Four Chains Travel” on YouTube to see our full-length Italy travel videos and reviews. (Honest, unsponsored opinions!)

Enjoy a discount on your next booking with our Four Chains Travel link at Hotel Ai Dogi (where we stayed). It overlooks the Piazza Grande! Send us a message...

On 7 October 1593, the superintendent of the Venetian Republic founded a revolutionary new kind of settlement: Palmanova. The city’s founding date commemorated the victory of the Christian forces over the Ottoman Turks in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, during the War of Cyprus. Also honored on 7 October was Saint Justina, chosen as the city's patron saint. Using all the latest military innovations of the 16th century, this small town was a fortress in the shape of a nine-pointed star, designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi. Between the points of the star, ramparts protruded so that the points could defend each other. A moat surrounded the town, and three large, guarded gates allowed entry. The construction of the first circle, with a total circumference of 7 kilometres (4 mi), took 30 years.In 1960 Palmanova was declared a national monument.

American professor Edward Wallace Muir Jr. said on Palmanova: "The humanist theorists of the ideal city designed numerous planned cities that look intriguing on paper but were not especially successful as livable spaces. Along the northeastern frontier of their mainland empire, the Venetians began to build in 1593 the best example of a Renaissance planned town: Palmanova, a fortress city designed to defend against attacks from the Ottomans in Bosnia. Built ex nihilo according to humanist and military specifications, Palmanova was supposed to be inhabited by self-sustaining merchants, craftsmen, and farmers. However, despite the pristine conditions and elegant layout of the new city, no one chose to move there, and by 1622 Venice was forced to pardon criminals and offer them free building lots and materials if they would agree to settle the town.

(I wrote an article about Palmanova inside the Dainik Bhaskar Newspaper of India on 17 December 2019 and I thought why not share it...

Piazza Grande di Palmanova - Il cuore di una città unica

La Piazza Grande di Palmanova è il fulcro di questa straordinaria città stellata, un capolavoro di urbanistica rinascimentale e un luogo carico di fascino e storia. Perfettamente esagonale, la piazza rappresenta il simbolo della struttura geometrica che rende Palmanova unica al mondo.

Cosa ci è piaciuto

Simmetria perfetta: La piazza offre una vista spettacolare, con i suoi ampi spazi e gli edifici disposti in maniera armoniosa, tutti convergenti verso il centro.

Storia viva: Qui si respira la storia della Repubblica di Venezia, che progettò Palmanova come città fortificata.

Atmosfera tranquilla: Nonostante la sua grandezza, la piazza mantiene un’atmosfera rilassata, perfetta per una passeggiata o una pausa.

Eventi e mercati: Spesso ospita mercati, fiere e rievocazioni storiche che la rendono ancora più affascinante.

Vista panoramica: È il punto ideale per osservare la struttura a stella della città, soprattutto se si sale su una delle mura vicine.

Consigli FoodTripGo

Visitate il Duomo: Situato sulla piazza, il Duomo di Palmanova merita una visita per il suo stile unico e la sua storia.

Fotografate dall’alto: Se ne avete l’opportunità, cercate un punto sopraelevato per catturare la geometria della città dall’alto.

Prendetevi il vostro tempo: Sedetevi in uno dei caffè sulla piazza e godetevi l’atmosfera di questo luogo speciale.

Conclusione

Per noi di FoodTripGo, Piazza Grande di Palmanova non è solo una piazza, ma il cuore pulsante di una città che racconta una storia affascinante e unica. Una tappa imperdibile per chiunque visiti il Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

FoodTripGo ti aiuta a pianificare il tuo viaggio ideale...