Regular grid and the power of masonry
The historic center, or Old Town, was designed as a regular grid of streets converging around the Main Market Square—the largest medieval market square in Europe. At its center stands the Cloth Hall, surrounded by architectural gems of the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. The city was originally surrounded by massive walls with 47 towers and 8 gates. Today, remnants of this defensive system include the Florian Gate and the Barbican, which are excellent examples of late medieval military architecture.