St. Mark's Square/Piazza San Marco Reviews (Venice, Italy)

The Heart of Venice

Gravesend, United Kingdom

September 20, 2012

Email
Print

Best of IgoUgo Piazza San Marco Venice.I would be absolutely amazed if anyone who visits Venice does not end up in the Piazza San Marco at some point during your visit to Venice. The Piazza is the heart of the city where most of the main tourist and important ...Read more Piazza San Marco Venice.

I would be absolutely amazed if anyone who visits Venice does not end up in the Piazza San Marco at some point during your visit to Venice. The Piazza is the heart of the city where most of the main tourist and important sites can be found. The Doges Palace, The Basilica San Marco, The Campanile San Marco, The Torre Dell’ Orologio are all found here at the square. So many historical and beautiful buildings surrounding the square make it The place to visit if you like. If you are arriving in the city from the International airport of San Marco the Alilaguna boat will probably drop you off near the Piazza just in front of the Doges Palace. Most of the water buses depart from here too.

Meandering through the alleyways and streets of Venice you will see signs directing you either towards Rialto or to Piazza San Marco. If you are lost in the side streets you could perhaps look towards the sky and catch a glimpse of the Campanile San Marco that looms above the square in order to get your bearings.
Historical features of the Square.

At the Eastern end of St Mark’s Square you will find the Basilica San Marco, the Doges Palace, San Marco campanile and the Astrological clock. Some of these buildings have been here since the early 800’s AD. At different stages throughout the centuries these buildings have been added to and improved especially as Venice became a major maritime Republic and an important trading centre. The Square was used for grand parades of both church and government not only that market traders plied their wares in the square. At the Eastern end of the square there is a smaller square to the left of the Basilica and the area in to the front of the Doges Palace is a smaller Piazzetta leading to the lagoon and waterfront promenade passing the two winged lions on high pillars.

The square is surrounded on three sides by imposing buildings built in the 16th Century housing shops and cafes in a colonnaded walkway above which are offices and homes that originally housed important government officials and important figures from San Marco. The pavement was originally built in the 12th century using bricks that were placed in herringbone fashion but due to the Aqua Alta (High tides from the Adriatic) and regular flooding the pavement was raised by one meter with improved drainage. The pavement was redesigned in the 14th Century and a pattern of squares of white Istrian stone was built into the brickwork which is thought to mark out places for the traders to set up their stalls.

St. Marks square today!

St. Marks square is still the place to head for if you wish to visit the Basilica and the Doges palace. The square is full of historical buildings and interesting buildings you could spend a couple of days here exploring all it has to offer. However as most people visiting Venice are likely only to be there for a couple of days there is a lot to pack in if you wish to see more of Venice. During the day time the square is full of tourists who flock here to these great buildings. The queues to enter these sites are really long so if you wish to get in to all these places get there early before the thousands of day visitors arrive by train, bus and cruise liners or leave some to later in the day when they have departed. Even when most of the people have left Venice is still packed with tourists but it is easier to find places to eat without having to wait for tables to become available. Walking around the square you will notice that some of the steps and pathways are quite worn due to the thousands of tourists who visit the square each day. There are by laws in place to ensure that you are not allowed to plonk yourself down and start eating a snack anywhere in the square you will be asked to move on by the police. There are virtually no places to sit and admire the architecture around the square unless of course you are feeling flush and sit with a drink in one of the expensive cafes surrounding the square.

Eating and drinking in St. Marks Square.

My advice is DON’T…… unless of course you have a very deep wallet or you really want to soak up the atmosphere or you are foolish with money and madly in love. To sit in one of the cafes or restaurants surrounding the square is probably one of the most expensive things you will do in Venice. The restaurants are pavement style cafes which allows you to soak up the ambiance of Venice and people watch at a price of course The bills are astronomical for example Euro 9 for a small coke plus Euro 6 Supplement for listening to the music. For coffee expect to pay around 18 euros. As for eating dinner don’t expect any change from Euro 200 each for dinner. A bottle of wine starts from Euro 42 to Euro 300. You could probably get away with lunch for around Euro 100. The restaurant. The Grancaffe Quadri is one such restaurant. There is a large outside eating area and a small band stand with white drapes. Five musicians play music in competition with a restaurant on the opposite side of the square. You can also eat inside and there is a lovely restaurant upstairs too which is finely and tastefully decorated with a superb ambiance overlooking the square. We were not able to get a table overlooking the square so chose to eat elsewhere. To listen to the band playing Con te Partiro made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and a shiver down my spine. It really is something special but of course at a price. My advice is to find a café or restaurant off the square down one of the maze of alleyways where you can find much better standard of food at a far better price.

Shopping.

There is a variety of tourist type shops surrounding the square and high class shops selling glassware and costume jewellery. These high end shops do not display prices on some of the things but it will make your heart flutter when they reveal the prices. Do yourself and your credit card a favour and walk down the alleyways of Venice if you really want to nab yourself a bargain, well a bargain compared to the prices you will pay in St. Marks square. Murano glass can be bought far more cheaply in the little side streets as opposed to here.
Close

From journal The most beautiful city in the world.

San Marco

by Zhebiton

Moscow, Moskva, Russia

July 20, 2010

Email
Print

Best of IgoUgo At San Marco, there are three architectural and historical era Venice. The eldest, Byzantine, presented the cathedral, gave its name to the area. In fact Italian, coinciding with the peak of the Renaissance as well as with the heyday of the Venetian ...Read more At San Marco, there are three architectural and historical era Venice. The eldest, Byzantine, presented the cathedral, gave its name to the area. In fact Italian, coinciding with the peak of the Renaissance as well as with the heyday of the Venetian Republic, embodied in the Doge's Palace and Bell Tower. A right-grandiose, beautiful sameness of its frame the main part of the area is reminiscent of the time of the Austrian possession of these places.

Doge's Palace - this is, in short, palazzo. He wants to meet, priodevshis into something colorful, medieval, brocade and velvet. Appearance of the palace does not contain absolutely nothing authoritatively-surly - just flush the wealth and luxury are so natural and frank, even devoid of sediment wrong. Therefore, it seems strange that in this bright and joyful structure in large numbers going all that inevitably accompanies the big money and big government: intrigue, murderous conspiracy, betrayal ... Solid building rests on a tracery lancet arched gallery, why not press on his vision of the weight . Very nice balconies in the middle of the facades.

Piazzetta, a small area, the pier - the place where the sea begins, that is felt by the constant swell in the lagoon and the winds long journey, walk freely on the embankment. Here it becomes clear that Venice necessarily imply space, even inside the stone anguish is immense foreboding, does not fit in itself, as evidenced by high gates in a couple of elbows to the outer doors of the building - these gates prevent the sea to enter the home during the regular tidal flood.

The old, painted in a diagonal stripe poles sticking out of the water, serve as a shelter for shrouded gondolas that scoured on a leash. In gondolas black lacquered and gilded carved side cockpit jewelry, musical bent stem, which crossed the parallel bars, still more binding them to stave. Close

From journal The Souls of Venice

St Mark's Square

by Joy S

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

October 2, 2008

Email
Print

Best of IgoUgo This is the heart of Venice and one of the world's most beautiful public squares. It is full of cafes, shops, tourists and pigeons. Since the founding of the Doge's (ducal leader's) house, the Church of St Mark and the bell tower (Campanile) have ...Read more

From journal 3 Nights in Venice

Piazza San Marco

by Muted Prophet

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

July 14, 2007

Email
Print

Best of IgoUgo Your experience in Venice is not truly complete without a visit to Piazza San Marco. For lovers of architecture, culture, history, water, fine dining, and endless shopping opportunities.Piazza San Marco is a short 15-minute walk from the train ...Read more Your experience in Venice is not truly complete without a visit to Piazza San Marco. For lovers of architecture, culture, history, water, fine dining, and endless shopping opportunities.

Piazza San Marco is a short 15-minute walk from the train station. But make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes as there are many bridges to cross. Even without a map, you can easily find this area - just follow the tourists. Or if that doesn't work for you, simply walk and ask the Venetians. Once you arrive to a certain point, there are signs and arrows providing you directions.

Piazza San Marco is a HUGE open space of glorious architecture - too overwhelmingly beautiful to describe in mere words (check out my photos). On the way to the Piazza, you will pass by many fine restaurants, concert halls, shops, and pubs.

Piazza San Marco is one of the main places to catch a gondola ride through the city and also to take public transportation to the many islands (highly recommend Lido). Gondola rides can be quite costly (we paid 100 euros for 1-hour ride at night), but if you speak a bit of Italian perhaps you can score a better deal. Our gondolier was very charming, spoke good English and French, and even serenaded us!

On your gondola ride, you will notice the water levels have been steadily creeping upwards through the years necessitating many home owners, restaurants, and hotels to move their first floors up to the second floors. Many residences can only be reached by water!

We went on a night when the waters were particularly choppy, but it made the experience all the more exciting. Our gondolier was incredibly nimble and we never once feared for our safety.

During the flooding season, tables are set up in the Piazza so that you can walk from one spot to another. We went in July and experienced only mild flooding, no issues though.

I have heard many tourists complain about the heat and the smell from the canals. Honestly, I did not notice either and we went when it was supposed to be at its height.

At night, you can listen to the musical entertainment while dining (for a small charge).

There are plenty of polizia around, so all is safe. Close

From journal Mamma Mia! - It's Venice!

Piazza San Marco

by Liam Hetherington

Manchester, United Kingdom

February 24, 2007

Email
Print

Best of IgoUgo Truly the heart of Venice is the Piazza San Marco, St Mark's Square. The city's greatest church—the Basilica of St Mark—and the Palace of the Doges is situated around the square and its smaller offshoot, the Piazzetta. Napoleon himself described the ...Read more Truly the heart of Venice is the Piazza San Marco, St Mark's Square. The city's greatest church—the Basilica of St Mark—and the Palace of the Doges is situated around the square and its smaller offshoot, the Piazzetta. Napoleon himself described the square as "The finest drawing room in Europe".

This statement should not be seen as an uncritical one however—it describes the lethargy and irrelevance that Venice had drifted into by the turn of the 19th century. A place to relax, yes, to chat and plan, yes; not a place for action. This can be seen today in the patrons supping at their over-priced coffees in the Caffes Florian, Quadri, and Lavena; the tourists slowly craning their necks up at the mosaics of the basilica, at the campanile, and trying to glimpse the 'Moors' atop the Torre dell'Orologio; and the languid couples strolling through at dusk.

Apart from the basilica and Palazzo Ducale (reviewed separately) there are other things to see. For free there is the stroll down the Piazzetta to the Molo to see the patron saints of Venice atop the twin granite columns—the winged lion of St Mark, and the city's original patron, St Theodore. Turning left down the waterfront takes you past the entrance to the Doge's Palace, to a bridge, from where you can get your compulsory photo of the Ponte dei Sospiri—the Bridge of Sighs.

Back in the Piazza, at 99m the Campanile is the tallest structure in the city. This particular version only actually dates from 1912—the original suddenly collapsed in 1902. Sixty cents allows you to ascend. The view from here has been enjoyed by many, including Galileo, Goethe, and Emperor Frederick III, who refused to dismount and instead rode his horse up to the top. For my money however a better view can be achieved by taking the vaporetto across to San Giorgio Maggiore and climbing the campanile there.

To the north of the square is the Clock Tower, or Torre dell'Orologio. You cannot visit it, and the best view comes from the front balcony of the basilica. From here you can see the two bronze statues that strike the hour, colloquially known as 'The Moors' due to the dark patina of the metal.

Surrounding the square we find the Procuratie. Essentially rather grand offices for the administration of the city when they were completed by Sansovino in the 16th century, they were converted into a palace by Napoleon's stepson upon his appointment as Viceroy of Italy, a redesign that involved tearing down Sansovino's church of San Geminiano at the square's western end and building a ballroom in its place. Nowadays, they are occupied by the Museo Correr and Museo Archeologico. Entry to these museums and the Palazzo Ducale is with the Musei di Piazza San Marco card (€11; half price for EU citizens under 30 or over 65) or the Venice Card (see Overview for details). Close

From journal We Open In Venice...

Piazza San Marco

by VA_traveler

Dumfries, Virginia

February 13, 2007

Email
Print

There are a few sights that you have to see in your life; a few things you must experience. Venice’s Piazza San Marco is one of these. Napoleon was not wrong when he called this square Europe’s most beautiful drawing room. Visit during the day to ...Read more

From journal All Over Italy: Stop 1, Venice

Piazza San Marco

by amber02

chicago, Illinois

September 13, 2006

Email
Print

This is probably the most famous square in the entire city. When you visit this square, as you stand at one end of the square, it will seem as if the square is so vast. The shape and the formation of the square make it seem vast and really bigger ...Read more

From journal Vacation in Venice

Piazza San Marco

by maria585

Bronx, New York

August 21, 2006

Email
Print

No tour of Venice is complete without a visit to this famous piazza. I recommend going in the early morning or late afternoon if you are visiting in the summer because the sun beats down on it and it becomes hard to see the church or take good ...Read more

From journal Itlay's Most Romantic City

Piazza San Marco

by traveller22

Natick, Massachusetts

February 24, 2006

Email
Print

A wonderful place to people watch (and Pigeon watch), it can get crowded in the summer afternoons, I recommend trying to see it in the morning. It stands in front of the San Marco's cathedral, looking up at the famous horses on top of San Marcos ...Read more

From journal A Long Weekend in Venice

St. Mark's Square

by Glamazon22

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

January 3, 2006

Email
Print

Best of IgoUgo Winding around and around the narrow streets and bridges of Venice, one begins to wonder, "will I ever get there?" Taking time to enter shops and looking for one-of-kind treasures while staring up at building signs indicating to go here for St. ...Read more

From journal Of Carnivals and Gondolas

IgoUgo

St. Mark's Square/Piazza San Marco

Avg. User Rating:

User Reviews

The Heart of Venice

San Marco

St Mark's Square

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

St. Mark's Square

Compare Rates Across Websites

St. Mark's Square/Piazza San Marco

What's Nearby?

Nearby Things to Do

Popular Venice Hotels

Popular Things to Do in Venice

Avg. User Rating:

User Reviews

The Heart of Venice

San Marco

St Mark's Square

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

St. Mark's Square

Compare Rates Across Websites