Parc Guell
Barcelona, Spain

People's Choice

These are the places we remember most vividly, the places where serendipitous things happen, the places we tell stories about.

Browse through over 600 public spaces to see what makes places great--and why each one is unique. While you're here, you can nominate your own favorites or add to the Hall of Shame.

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Recent Comments

Here's what people are saying about...

Warwick Valley Farmers Market:

(10/03/08 by Peter Lyons Hall): The website for the Warwick Valley Farmers Market is http://www.warwickinfo.net/farmersmarket"
San Antonio Central Library:

(10/01/08 by Ellen Hutchison): The goal of architecture isn't to blend into its surroundings. What an awful environment we'd have everywhere if that was the case. "
Rua Augusta:

(10/01/08 by Tiago Oliveira): Just a correction: The cobblestone is not painted. The patterns are formed by the usage of two types of stone (black basalt and white limestone). It is worth having a look at some of the pavement available throughout Portugal, but mostly in Lisbon. Just type "calcada portuguesa" on Google or Yahoo Images."
Pretty Water Lake:

(09/21/08 by Mike Williams): I love lobster, but would gladly trade the meal for a day of trout fishing on Pretty Water Lake. I have not made it in a few years ( plan to return this trout season. ) but remember the fees not being too bad at all. A customer of mine caught a 5.5 Rainbow from this lake, my largest is 3.3. Even catching several smaller trout is very entertaining day. My applause to the persons involved in the improvement of this lake. "
Camden Town:

(09/16/08 by Jon Vickers-Jones): My most memorable moment in Camden Town was eating eel pie and mash when I was 8 ...but that was 63 years ago. I'm so glad that Camden town still thrives and is so alive. I live in USA now."
Washington Square Park, NYC:

(09/15/08 by carol shedd): Ah, but how many of you knew it in its earlier years - in the 30s and 40s when it was playground for the Village children. How many knew there was once a bandstand and concerts, enough water in the fountain to do a little swim, a water fountain in the upper circle, a country fair with real sheep and Treasure Island sponsored by the WPA. Max Bodenheim, drunk and standing in the lower circle reciting poetry. Dr. Kachini in the same circle blowing puffs of cotton into the air for the birds. Riding an open double decker bus for 10¢. And most special of all, gathering under the arch on a snowy Christmas Eve with a huge Norway pine (I think given by Wanamaker's) and a Salvation Army band playing Christmas Carols and all of us joining in song - it was lovely!"
Kensington Market:

(09/11/08 by Jon Alexander): There have now been (I think) 3 or 4 years in a row of car-free Sunday festivals ("PS Kensington", or "Pedestrian Sunday"), a series of 6-7 Sundays in the spring, summer, and fall. The neighbourhood is closed to vehicular traffic on those days, and vendors, musicians and kids of all ages dance and play in the streets. 2 more to come in 2008! More info at streetsareforpeople.org and pskensington.ca"
Belle Isle Park:

(09/08/08 by charles jones): No one here mentioned the canoes one could rent on the island. I spent many saturdays and family and friends BBQ's on Belle Iwsland while growing up. My frinds and I always rented two or three canoes and went through the lagoons all day long. When we were almost back at the rental place, we would always tip each other over :-). What fun memories. OH!! I almost forgot, tha Aqauarium had a penguin house too that was awsome. I loved that place. I have lived in Germany over twenty years now and Detroit has truly decade to the point that I get a queezy stomach at times when I visit home, it is so sad :-(."
Rittenhouse Square Park:

(09/06/08 by teresa marvel): The park is beautiful with all kinds of beautiful people. I am only sad that I was not allowed to feed those that were hungry. "
Piazza Navona:

(08/30/08 by fabrizio tonello): As an Italian, I respectfully disagree with this nomination. While it is obvious that Piazza Navona has a wonderful, enclosed, form, and Bernini's masterpiece as a main attraction, the crowds of tourists suppress any plesant experience there. Tourism, with its depressing souvenir shops, forbids the casual visitor from relaxing, reading a newspaper, or meeting friends there. Unfortunately, this is more and more true for other Italian squares like piazza del Campo in Siena, piazza S. Marco in Venice, or piazza della Signoria in Florence. Therefore, you should look for "Great Places" where some authentic experience of pleasant city living is possible."