Make Sure You Visit St Mark’s Square in Venice

by Jillian Kammer

Europe has plenty of ordinary public squares but none compare to Piazza San Marco. One could spend their entire vacation taking in the many sights. There are a dozen fantastic things to see, including the Basilica di San Marco.

Many visitors are attracted just for the chance to stand in the ancient square to see the sights of the Basilica, the Campanile, the Doge’s Palace and much more. Plus, there is no traffic or auto noise to mar the experience, which is unique to many public squares in Europe.

The piazza began as nothing more than an open space next to a church that has since been replaced in the 9th century. Enlarged and reshaped into its current three sided shape in the last part of the 12th century, it soon became the place where the rich, poor, grand and humble met. It held all the very important offices of the Republic and was also the place where all the major festivals were held.

Doge’s Palace is one of the more delightful sights to be seen. The palace, called the Palazzo Ducale di Venzia, was the palace of the Doge of Venice, as the name suggests. The Doge was the leader of the government. The palace was constructed in the 14th century and it incorporated many innovative features. Some of these include a series of arches on the bottom story, along with heavier sections above it. It’s now a museum where there are paintings by Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and other famous artists of that time.

Nearby is the Bridge of Sighs, which led to a 1600-era prison. It gained its present name from the poet Lord Byron in the 19th century. The thought was that prisoners would utter a sigh as they were led into the Doge’s prison after seeing the loveliness of Venice for the last time. Also, as legend has it, two lovers who kiss under the bridge in a gondola at sunset will enjoy love everlasting.

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The Campanile is another sight that’s a must see in the square. This is the bell tower of St. Mark’s. The current Campanile di San Marco was finished in 1912. It was designed as a replica of a structure that stood earlier but collapsed ten years prior. That structure had stood for almost 500 years. The structure acted as both a bell tower for the cathedral as well as a military watchtower from the 10th century. The bell tower alone makes a visit to the square worth your while. You’ll love how the roof catches the Venice summer sun and cascades it across the entire square.

The Moors’ Clock Tower, or the Torre dell’Orologio, is another fantastic sight in Piazza San Marco. The construction on the tower was completed in the year 1499. However, it does much more than tell time for the local citizens. The clock tower adds immensely to the beauty of the square. It has five bays and two grand bronze figures and remains one of Venice’s most glorious public works. The clock also contains a series of dials that tell the time, the zodiac sign as well as the places of the sun and the moon.

With so many sights to be seen in this one part of Venice alone, visitors to the area should be thankful for the Caf Florian, which is very nearby. They’ve been serving coffee to locals and visitors alike since 1720 and have provided all the energy required to see everything that St. Mark’s has to offer.

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