SAN MARCO SQUARE

Undoubtedly at the top of the list of things to see in Venice, St. Mark's Square is counted among the most beautiful squares in the world, and not without reason.

Indeed, those who come to visit Venice are enraptured by the beauty and magnificence of this place, which encompasses most of the city's main attractions. In addition to the amazing St. Mark's Basilica, which serves as the backdrop for what is the only area that is called a square (the others are called "Campi"), you can in fact find St. Mark's Bell Tower, the Clock Tower, the Doge's Palace, the Carrer Museum and other wonders. The square is located in the sestiere of San Marco.

St. Mark's Square is invaded daily by thousands of tourists and the endless lines to access the attractions are well known. The advice we give is to arrive already with priority admission tickets (you can book them online).

You will skip the line and can start visiting right away!

SAN MARCO SQUARE - HISTORY

Considered the most elegant drawing room in the world, it has been and still is the heart of the city, the place where people meet and where the most important events take place.

It was originally a vegetable garden, cut in the middle by the Rio Botario, with the church of S. Marco on one side and that of S. Geminiano on the other. Doge Sebastiano Ziani (1172-78) enlarged it to its present size by burying the canal and rebuilding the church of S. Geminiano at the bottom. It was later surrounded by the houses of the chaplains of St. Mark's and the palaces of the Procurators, state magistrates with representative functions, from which the Procuratie took their name. A hospital was elected and it was paved. The bell tower, originally a lighthouse or defense tower, was raised to its present height in the early 16th century.

In 1496 the square was complete (as shown by Gentile Bellini's painting preserved in the Accademia).

During the Renaissance the Procuratie Vecchie and the Clock Tower were built on the right side, in the 16th century the Procuratie Nuove on the left side. In the 19th century, by order of Napoleon, the church of S. Geminiano was torn down and the part in front of the Basilica, the Procuratie Nuovissime, was built.

STRUCTURE

St. Mark's Square is structured into 3 zones: the piazza, which is the area between the Procuratie Vecchie, the Procuratie Procuratie Nuove and the Procuratie Nuovissime; the Piazzetta San Marco, which is the extension of the area in front of the Doge's Palace (this is where the Libreria is built, where the rarities of the Biblioteca Marciana are located; and the Piazzetta dei Leoncini, which is the area to the left of St. Mark's Basilica.

If you want to enjoy the most scenic access to St. Mark's Square, you have to arrive from the sea. The impact is truly breathtaking.

GETTING TO SAN MARCO SQUARE

1. By Vaporetto: from the station or Piazzale Roma take lines 1 and 2 getting off at the Vallaresso stop

2. From Tronchetto: take the vaporetto line 2

3. From Marco Polo airport: use Alilaguna boats Blue, Red and Orange line (April to October only).

Have you decided to visit Venice in 3 days, or can you just do a touch-and-go in the city? You cannot leave without seeing St. Mark's Square!