For those who visit Venice, it's unthinkable not to spend a few hours in the city's historic centre. the San Marco district.
Here you will find the most famous attractions, such as the Bridge of Sighs and the Bovolo staircase.
From Piazza San Marco, you can also enjoy an excellent view of the nearby island of Giudecca.
The San Marco district Venice: article summary
Where is the San Marco district?
The San Marco district is at the heart of Venice. The last section of the Grand Canal defines one side, then gives way to the sea in front of the San Marco basin, which closes off the famous square.
To the east of this district lies the Castellowhile to the north lies the Cannaregio.
How to get to Sestiere San Marco?
Getting to the San Marco district is fairly straightforward. It's connected to the mainland, as are all the city's districts with the exception of the island of the GiudeccaThere are two ways to get there:
- By land, by walking from the station through the neighbourhoods of Santa Croce and San Polo and crossing the Rialto bridgeor by taking a stroll through the Cannaregio.
- By sea, thanks to gondolas or with private boats or public boat-buses. Take lines 1 or 2 and walk for about ten minutes..
What to see in Venice's San Marco district?
If you don't have much time to spend in Venice, a visit to the San Marco district is a must. It's one of the smallest districts in the whole of Venice, but it contains most of the most famous attractions.
For this reason, if you have the opportunity, it's best to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon, towards evening. Indeed, at these times of day, the city is emptied of tourists and becomes more liveable.
In the San Marco district is the large Piazza San Marco, which, in addition to the Basilica and the Doge's Palace, is home to a long series of monuments and historic buildings.
Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco is the only square in the whole of Venice. In fact, the other spaces that have this function are called campo. It's quite an imposing space, 170 meters long and 72 wide in its main body. Piazza San Marco is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The structure of the Piazza San Marco is actually made up of three spaces:
- The piazza San Marco proper is the largest part and faces directly towards the famous basilica.
- Piazzetta San Marco, linking the basilica to the sea through the Ducal Palace
- Piazzetta dei Leoncini to the left of the basilica
Piazza San Marco has existed since the 9th century, but was originally much smaller. The site was partly used as a vegetable garden and warehouse.
Saint Mark's Basilica
The most famous monument in the entire square is undoubtedly the Basilica of San Marco. This church is richly decorated, both inside and out. In the 11th century, it was also called "the golden church", also because of its suggestive internal mosaics. Such opulence was an expression of the power of the Serenissima Republic, which over the centuries.., has acquired more and more power.
The site has been home to several churches, the first of which was built in 828 for the very purpose of housing the relics of Saint Mark stolen from Alexandria in Egypt.
Venice's San Marco district: The Clock Tower
To the left of St Mark's Basilica, another historic monument provides access to the square: the clock tower. The latter is also known as the Torre dei Mori. This tall, narrow building among other palaces represents one of the most important Renaissance palaces in Venice.
Its façade is adorned with a mechanical clock showing the phases of the moon, sun and zodiac. A niche houses the statue of a Madonna, that of the lion and, above, the Moorish bell dating from 1497.
Doge's Palace
We can say that Doge's Palace in Piazza San Marco is almost as famous as the great basilica.
Venice's Palazzo Ducale was built in the 9th century. Over time, however, it was rebuilt and renovated several times. Its current appearance is mainly due to the 1340 revision, when it housed the city's governmental functions.
Halfway up the building, you can see the beautiful central balcony, which dates back to the early 15th century. designed by Pier Paolo delle Masegne.
Venice's San Marco district is a must-see when visiting the city. Here you can see Venice's most beautiful sights.
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