The ‘Great Public Spaces’ of the World

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  12.03.08 | 9:31 AM ET

imagePhoto of the Ridge in Shimla by gopal1035 via Flickr (Creative Commons)

The non-profit Project for Public Spaces has put together a list of the 60 greatest public spaces in the world—and they’ve gone about it using a pretty compelling definition of “public space.” “These are the places we remember most vividly,” says the PPS site, “the places where serendipitous things happen, the places we tell stories about. They are decidedly local, but can also absorb a fair amount of tourism without losing the qualities that make them great.”

Fair enough. So how about the winners? It’s an eclectic, far-ranging list. I found myself nodding in agreement with Venice’s Campo Santa Margherita, New York’s Grand Central Station, or the Ridge, in Shimla, India—and raising a puzzled eyebrow at the inclusion of the Corpus Christi bus terminal, or the main drag in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown. Over at Reid on Travel, Lonely Planet author Robert Reid offers up 10 spots that PPS missed. (Via Reid on Travel)

Tags: Architecture, Shrinking Planet

Eva Holland is co-editor of World Hum. She is a former associate editor at Up Here and Up Here Business magazines, and a contributor to Vela. She's based in Canada's Yukon territory.


4 Comments for The ‘Great Public Spaces’ of the World

Ling 12.03.08 | 11:31 AM ET

Places like Bleecker Street and Petaling Street are fine, but there’s a heck of a lot they missed. For example, if you’re listing Grand Central, then one of the greatest public spaces in India is the CST railway terminal, which was attacked by those nuts last week. Its a Victorian landmark, millions of people pass through every day, and its a public space. I’d say that qualifies it as great.

Chris 12.03.08 | 1:44 PM ET

I was surprised by the fact that New York’s Central Park is not on the list. It’s world famous, impossibly beautiful, full of interesting people, and a multitude of activities take place there. Free concerts, Shakespeare performances, boating, sports, musicians, and incomparable people watching are just a few of the things to be found there on any given day. It’s ringed by gorgeous architecture in the center of Manhattan, and no matter what the season you can find plenty to do there. It isn’t simply in the top 60, it should easily place within the top 10.

Grizzly Bear Mom 12.11.08 | 5:40 PM ET

You missed the national mall in Washington DC!  Beautiful landscaping surrounded by lovely neoclassical buildings of power and education.  Place of memorial(s).  Home of the leader of the free world.  Magnet to demonstrators.  Seat of power.  We have everything Central Park does plus POWER.  I would think that The Mall would be number 1.  Come see us sometime, when its not warm out so you tourists aren’t three deep.  For example, right outside my office windowis the national Christmas tree and ?56? little trees decorated as their state or territory think represents them.

Garden City Kansas Hotels 12.18.08 | 3:51 AM ET

The ridge at shimla is very nice public place
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