Piazza Grande, Square in Arezzo, Italy

Piazza Grande is the central square of Arezzo, Italy, laid out in a trapezoidal shape with a slope that helps rainwater drain away. The paving of red brick in a herringbone pattern is crossed by pale stone strips forming large angular shapes, and the surface is mostly flat and open, with a few small metal drains set into the brick.

The square took shape around 1200, but the space had been used since Etruscan times and later served as a livestock market. In the 16th century, Cosimo I de' Medici had several buildings demolished and commissioned Giorgio Vasari to redesign the area, giving it a new role as the political center of the city.

The square is known for the Giostra del Saracino, a jousting tournament with a historical parade that fills the space with knights and flag bearers. The event takes place twice a year, in June and September, and brings the medieval past of the city back to life for a few days.

The square is in the heart of the old town, so it is best reached on foot through the surrounding lanes. The ground is uneven in places because of the slope and the stone strips, so watch your step, especially when it is wet.

In the middle of the square once stood a stone column called the Petrone, used to display official notices and standard measures, and later as a pillory for debtors. The column has been removed, but its memory remains in the name of the square's slope, which still guides rainwater toward the lower side.