St. Mark's Square - an overview and other Venice, Italy Things to Do Tips

St. Mark's square is unbelievable! There are so many fabulous sights in such a small area - it is amazing.

On the picture to your right you can see the long wing of the Procuratie Vecchie--originally inhabited by the Procurators of St. Mark, the highest officials of the Venetian Republic other than the Doge. The building has been rebuilt at various times in the following centuries, and its ground floor is now occupied by shops and other businesses. Its most famous tenant is the Caffè Quadri.

The clock tower to the right is named the "Torre dell'Orologio" and has been ringing out the hours since 1499. Unfortunately it was under scaffolding, when we visited in September 2003. The archway beneath the clock opens onto the "Mercerie", a number of interconnecting shopping streets that eventually lead to the Rialto Bridge.

In front of you is Basilica di San Marco: a grandiose and magnificent building of Byzantine domes, mosaics, and plundered treasure from the Near East and Asia.

Look off to the right of the Basilica for a glimpse of the Palazzo Ducale, or Doge's Palace.

The Campanile is a guard tower of more than 100 m heighth from the 8th Century that was rebuilt after a sudden collapse in 1902. You can take an elevator to the top for a great view of the city and the lagoon (absolutely recommended!!).

Behind, in the Procuratie Nuove, is the Museo Archeologico and the state library.

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"St. Mark's Square" actually is a wrong name, as the photo suggests: those slanting arcades aren't just the result of false perspective - the "square" is actually a trapezoid!!! Its shape, which flares outward from its enclosed end, makes the Piazza appear even more spacious when viewed from the Ala Napoleonica (the arcaded building at the top of the photograph).

It was laid out in the 11th Century, when its area was divided in half by a canal near the café tables in the picture. A century later, the canal was filled in, creating the basic shape that exists today.

A major building project was completed in the 16th century, and new stone paving replaced the old bricks in the early 1700s. The geometric patterns of the pavement have at times been used to mark the location of market stalls, but they also add to the illusion of depth - a trick often used in old times!

St. Mark's Square is known for the many many pigeons, but I had the feeling, that there were not so many at all this time I visited...

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Address: center of Venice

Basilica San Marco is one of the highlights of Venice! It is here that the body of St. Mark was recovered by a miracle and was buried beneath the basilica. This church is a symbol of the power and wealth that Venice once attained. The outside is decorated with marble and fantastic mosaics, including one from the 13th century. Inside there are more mosaics on the walls and ceiling, which create a mysterious atmosphere. Also inside is the Pala d’Oro, a 10th-century golden alterpiece, which is made up of nearly 2000 precious gems and 255 enameled panels.

This time we did not go inside, mainly because there were people cueing up at least 300 m!!! So if you want to see it - go early!

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Phone: +39 41 52252 05
Address: Piazza San Marco, Venice

Thanks to VT members sandysmith and steventilly I got curious to climb up the most famous tower of Venice.

We did have to stand in line for a few minutes, but then we saved much time as we did not have to climb the tower: there is only a lift - which was fine with me!!! The fee was €6 per person, which seem mucht, but which is worth every cent of it!!!

There is a splendid panoramic view from 60 m height. You can see the whole lagoon, Piazza San Marco from a different perspective and churches, roofs, towers ...... Fabulous!!!
If you are curious, do have a look at my "Aereal views of Venice" travellogue!

Even though today's tower was only erected in 1909, it is an exact replica of the 15th-century bell tower.The campanile has an interesting history to it: e.g. in 1609, Galileo Galilei exhibited his telescope here, and during the carnival, the bell tower used to serve as a stage for the tight rope-walkers who entertained the doge with their acrobatics!!!

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Phone: +39 0415224064
Address: Piazza San Marco, Venice

The Doges Palace served as the official Venetian residence of the Doges, who were the elected officials of the former Venetian Republic. This fantastic Gothic-style palace is a reflection of the artistry, architecture and craftmanship of those times. In addition to living quarters, the palace contains offices, meeting rooms, law courts and its famous prison cells, which are connected to the palace by the Bridge of Sighs.

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Phone: +39 41 52249 51
Address: Piazza San Marco, Venice

This bridge was constructed by Antonio Contino in 1600 and connects the Doge's prisons, or Prigioni, with the inquisitor's rooms in the main palace. The name "Bridge of Sighs" was not given until the 19th century, when Lord Byron helped to popularize the belief that the bridge's name was inspired by the sighs of condemned prisoners who were led through it to the executioner....

The bridge from where you can shoot your picture of the Bridge of Sighs is always crowded, but this picture is such a nice memory, so it is worth joining the crowd!

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Address: near Doges Palace

The Grand Canal is the main "highway of water" of Venice! When taking a tour of the Canal Grande you will be surrounded by the most opulent architecture. The atmosphere is absolutely unforgettable, as the splendour of the Grand Canal is truly unique!

I don't know about the prices of a gondola ride, but the regular boat tickets cost 5€ for the Canal Grande, even if you only went for two stops....

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There are only three bridges connecting Venice to the mainland and probably the most famous one of them is the Rialto Bridge.

Rialto Bridge crosses the Grand Canal. It was built seven times, and today's bridge was constructed in 1591. It is in the center of the city's old trading area and trades such as wine, coal and iron are still reflected in the nearby street names.

There are numerous tourist shops on the bridge and altogether three walkways - barely enough for the hundreds of tourists!!!

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Due to the size and style of this church, i Frari appears rather massive and plain. The outside appearance reflects the Franciscan lifestyle, which focused on spirituality and poverty. But don't miss going inside, you will be stunned! You will find Venetian treasures including the world famous Titian altarpieces "Assunta" and Bellini’s Madonna and Four Saints.

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Phone: +39 41 52226 37
Address: Campo dei Frari, San Polo, Venice