Verdi Square

Verdi Square is a small triangular park at the intersection of Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue at West 72nd Street on the Upper West Side. The square is dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi, the Italian opera composer whose works including La Traviata, Aida, Rigoletto, and Otello are among the most performed operas in the world.

A marble statue of Verdi, sculpted by Pasquale Civiletti and erected in 1906, stands at the center of the square, surrounded by figures representing characters from his operas. The monument was funded by donations from the Italian-American community and reflects the important role of Italian immigrants in the cultural life of the Upper West Side and New York City.

The square sits at the northern end of a pair of triangles created by Broadway's intersection with Amsterdam Avenue. Sherman Square, dedicated to the Civil War general, occupies the southern triangle, creating a paired set of named spaces that frame the busy 72nd Street intersection.

Verdi Square underwent a significant restoration in the early 2000s after years of neglect. The Verdi Square Civic Association, a neighborhood volunteer group, has maintained the park's plantings and advocated for its improvement, transforming it from a troubled gathering spot into a well-tended neighborhood garden.

The square's location at 72nd Street and Broadway places it at the heart of the Upper West Side's commercial and cultural life, steps from the 72nd Street subway station, the Beacon Theatre, and the shops and restaurants that line Broadway. Verdi's marble figure presides over this scene with operatic grandeur.