Town squares

When I try to think about a communal space, the first general thought for me is a town square. May be because there are so many urban squares in my country.

Anyway this space is qualified as a communal space because since the old age it was used as a place to trade, swap things, discuss about politics and meet people. It was also the symbol of power and politics of the territory. It is recognisable because, generally it is an open space surrounded by buildings with a political value.

A famous example is Piazza San Marco, in Venice, Italy. (Piazza=square)
It is surrounded by the Ducal Palace

As reported above this space was born many years ago to satisfy citizens needs and obviously it is still today a public space. But by time, everything is changed and so people needs. Nowadays there are much more buildings and few communal spaces in which people can meet or these are to far to reach. This is why today architects are starting to integrate these kinds of space also in smaller dimensions. And this is what I'm going to show you through my research.

SOURCE: http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gentile_bellini,_processione_in_piazza_san_marco_03.jpg

Piazza San Marco with the Basilica by Canaletto, 1730

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Piazza_San_Marco_with_the_Basilica,_by_Canaletto,_1730._Fogg_Art_Museum,_Cambridge.jpg

Plan of Piazza San Marco, 1831

SOURCE: http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Quadri-Moretti,_Piazza_San_Marco_(1831),_01.jpg