Marco Polo Square

Marco Polo Square

Marco Polo Square is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Tianjin's Marco Polo Square is located in the former Italian Concession of Hebei District, Tianjin — the only Italian concession in modern China and the only one Italy ever had overseas.

The Peace Monument in Marco Polo Square stands 13.6 meters tall and was built in 1923. It was designed by Italian sculptor Giuseppe Boni. The original monument was demolished in the 1950s and reconstructed during the renovation of the Italian Style Street.

Located at the center of the Italian Style Area in Hebei District, at the intersection of the former Marco Polo Road (now Minzu Road) and Dante Road (now Ziyou Avenue), the square covers an area of 2,200 square meters. The surrounding buildings are well arranged with exquisite carvings, forming an elegant architectural complex. There are six small Western-style buildings with corner pavilions, each named after a goddess from Greek mythology. At the southeast corner of the square is the Italian Garden, which opened in 1924. Next to the garden is the Palais de Rebirth, built in 1934, which is a four-story Italian modernist building. The Peace Monument is situated at the center of the square, designed and built by Italians. The sculpture was originally erected in the 1920s to commemorate the victory of World War I.

In May 2013, Marco Polo Square was listed as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Location

Intersection of Ziyou Avenue and Minzhu Road, Hebei District, Tianjin

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Tianjin Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units