In this article, I present Venice's Saint Mark's Squarethe city's central, emblematic location!
Here you'll find
- Information on Piazza San Marco
- What you can see and do in the square
- An easy way to visit
- Nearby places of interest
- And much more!
If you're looking for information about Saint Mark's Square, you'll love this article.
Follow the guide!
Place Saint Marc: article summary
Saint Mark's Square, discovering the heart of the Serenissima
Visit Place Saint Marc of Venice takes its name from the city's patron saint, the evangelist St. Mark. In fact, it's the only square in Venice to bear this name: the city's other squares are called Campo or Piazzale.
A compulsory stopping-off point for stay in VeniceThis square is impressive: it measures 175 metres long and 83 metres wide and apart from the impressive monuments that can be seen there, it is marked by two specific elements:
- An incredible number of pigeonsThey are part of the landscape. The municipality has tried on several occasions to limit their numbers, but has been thwarted by the anger of some vendors who make a living from selling food for these birds. So there they are!
- TheAcqua Alta, closely linked to the problems of the Venice Lagoon leading to flooding of Piazza San Marco between autumn and early spring
Piazza San Marco has long been the center of Venetian lifeThe most important figures in the history of the Serenissima have visited it over the centuries. Napoleon once described it as the Europe's most elegant salon.
The square of Venice's patron saint
At the beginning of the IXth centurye century, Doge Giustiniano Participazio decided to choose a patron saint for Venice, one who could rival the prestige of St. Peter in Rome. He turned to Saint Marcwhose sacred relics were stolen by two merchants from a small port near Alexandria (Egypt).
Legend has it that St. Mark came to evangelize the Venetian region in the 1st century and that an angel foretold him: This is where you'll find rest.
No matter what you plan to do things to do in VeniceYou'll pass through Piazza San Marco. And as I'll detail below, you'll have plenty of time to admire the wonders and visit some of the city's most beautiful monuments!
What to see and do in Piazza San Marco?
It's not surprising, given the square's privileged position, that it's home to some of the city's most important buildings.
What to see in Piazza San Marco
You can admire :
- Visit Saint Mark's Basilicabuilt to accommodate the relics of St Mark. It's a must-see! Impressive both from the outside and inside, with its Golden Altarpiece, statues and incredible mosaics on a gold background.
- Visit Doge's PalaceThis was the heart of Venice's political and religious life until the end of the 18th century. A architectural marvel via which you can access Venice's secret prison, the Bridge of Sighs, and admire one of Tintoretto's finest works, Le Paradis (a preparatory version of which can be found in Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo).
- Visit Campanile de Saint Marc the tallest building in Venice
- Visit procuratiesThese were the living and working quarters of the high officials of the Venetian Republic. They split into three zones and surround the square: the procuraties nuove on the left, the Napoleonic wing in the center and the procuraties vecchie in the northern part of the square.
- Visit winged lionrepresenting St. Mark, which has been enthroned at the top of its column since 1816, after a stay in France between 1804 and 1815, stolen by the French.
What to do in Piazza San Marco
Among the activities you can take part in on this square, there are also :
- Listen to the musicians on the square. For the more affluent, it's possible to stop off at the terrace of a café.
- Have a drink in the famous Caffè Florianfounded in 1720, is the oldest establishment of its kind on the square. The salons are sublime, and you'll be walking in the footsteps illustrious regulars such as Casanova, Giuseppe Verdi (between two performances at the Venice Fenice) or Alfred de Musset
- Longer the Grand Canal passing through an area nicknamed the Piazzetta San Marcodue to its reduced size at this location
Take the time to wander around this square and feel the history sweep over you!
Rules for visiting Saint Mark's Square
Because of its particular structure, Venice is subject to various rules of conduct that must be respected. This will save you from a fine (up to 500 euros!). In Piazza San Marco, it is forbidden to :
- Eating and drinking in the square
- Feeding the pigeons (despite the food sold!)
- Throwing garbage on the ground
- Bicycles, scooters and other means of urban transport
- Going topless / stripping off / putting on a bathing suit
This will seem logical to most of you. But there's always offendersSo it's never a bad idea to remind ourselves of these rules.
Piazza San Marco: prices, reservations, opening hours, practical information
Here's what you need to know to visit this must-see square in Venice.
Rates and booking
Access to St. Mark's Square is totally free. You can move around freely and enjoy it for as long as you like.
Good to know If you'd like to enjoy its major attractions, have a virtual guide accompany you around the square and even take a gondola ride, you can buy Venice PassIt's a great way to save time and money.
Opening hours
St. Mark's Square is always open. However, it may be more pleasant to visit early morning or after 8pm. You can enjoy it with complete peace of mind!
Useful info
I strongly recommend that you an evening stroll around the square. You enjoy the illuminations of the monuments and the enchanting atmosphere that reigns in the evening, when most visitors have left the city.
What to see and do in the area?
The city's nerve center, Saint Mark's Square gives you access to a wide range of activities. Here are just a few of the things you can do from here:
- Discover Correr Museum and its rich collection of works of art, on the Place, in the Procuraties
- Stop off at the Royal Gardens of Veniceon the outskirts of the square
- Embark on a vaporettoto go to the island of Murano and discover glassblowing, or to Burano to marvel at the local lacework
What to do in Venice in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, a week?
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