The Central Square in Italian Towns

The Central Square, or piazza, has always been very important in towns and cities in Italy. Life centers around the piazza, the heart and soul of the city. Project for Public Spaces lists their picks for the Best Squares in the World and it should come as no surprise that 3 of the 16 are in Italy. Piazza Navona in Rome is ranked as third best square in the world, Piazza del Campo in Siena is fourth, and sixteenth place goes to Campo Santa Margherita in Venice.

One of my favorite squares in Italy is in Mantua in northern Italy. Mantua was recently chosen as the Most Livable City in Italy by Legambiente, Italy's non-profit Environmental League. The Olympic torch will be visiting Mantua on January 15.

Since the piazza is such an important part of Italian life, the Winter Olympic organizers have decided that Olympic medals will be presented in Piazza Castello, the main square of Turin, integrating the culture of the host country into the Olympic spirit.