St. Mark's Square

Piazza San Marco (or Saint Mark's Square), is the city's main meeting place. This magnificent square is located at the mouth of the Grand Canal filled with cafes, shops and several museums. You can easily see this square on photos of Venice as it is one of Europe's most famous meeting places. Visiting the elaborately designed Basilica of Saint Mark and listening to the bells of San Marco while sipping an Italian espresso and feeding pigeons is a delightful experience during your stay in Venice.

Called "Europe's drawing room" (a quote attributed to Napoleon), Saint Mark's Square is named after the quaint and stunning Basilica of the same name that dominates the east side of the square. The slender mobile bell tower, the bell tower of the Basilica, is one of the square's most recognizable landmarks.

Built in the 9th century before St. Mark's Church and the adjacent Doge's Palace, the square was enlarged in the 12th century after a canal and pier were filled. The tower (bell tower) was rebuilt three times. The latest version was completed in 1912. In the 16th century, Jacopo Sansovino fled to Venice in a caravan brought from Rome and built the worthy Loggetta del Sansovino. love, used as the council lounge for the Doge's Palace. The square was once paved with bricks in a unique herringbone pattern. But in 1735, the terracotta blocks were replaced with natural stone. On the waterfront, paved areas, known as La Piazzetta (small square) and Molo (wharf), are overseen by two 12th-century columns. Atop each statue are two patron saints of Venice. : Saint Mark in the form of a winged lion and Saint Teodoro (Theodore).

Saint Mark's Square is the heart of Venice - almost everything in the city revolves around it. During the summer, the square is crowded with tourists, but autumn and spring see fewer crowds. In winter, although wet and cold, this time the square is very romantic and ethereal.