I have been in Italy now for about a week, and this is a pretty common direction. Every tour I have taken has started at a piazza and you see friends and family and coworkers all coming together at the piazza too. It seems the whole purpose of the piazza in Italy is to come together.
Walking along the streets of Rome, all of a sudden, the narrow streets open up and expand into the piazza. The buildings create an active perimeter to the open area. Looking at the perimeter you can see a variety of services for the neighborhood: government, religious, or commercial – such as shops and cafes. Activity spills from inside the buildings into the piazza. People crisscross the piazza on their way somewhere. Friends meet at the fountain before going out for dinner. The piazza hums with activity. One of my favorite things to do has been to stop at café in piazza and sit with drink watching this constant hum of activity in front of me.
These flexible multi-purpose areas play an important role in the city, acting as a kind of front porch or lawn for the neighborhood. The absence of buildings in a dense built environment makes these places comfortable to be in – and useful in a way that often a building isn’t. You have a place to stop and rest or wait without being in the flow of other traffic (pedestrian or vehicular). You can see most of the space and catch sight of the person you are meeting. You can just have a moment to pause and feel part of the community. On top of all of that, the open space is flexible for all types of activities. In my brief time here, I have seen markets, concerts, soccer games, mini tennis courts (as part of a Davis Cup activity), card games, playgrounds, sitting, talking, eating and drinking. Neighbors and strangers all coming together for a rich variety of activity and life.
Many cultures have a similar idea to the Italian Piazza…there are plazas, squares, parks, etc. Each with its own style and local features. But the purpose is the same. As humans we need places where the community can come together for a variety of activities…or just to meet up.
In a world where we are becoming more disconnected locally as we connect globally through technology, I hope we don’t forget the benefit of having great public spaces that act as anchors and meeting spots for our communities.
Is there a place in your town where you come together? What makes it special?