famous primarily pigeons, walkways for floods and that really there, Doge's Palace, St Mark's Square - the heart and soul of Venice. Its worthy place among the competitors, San Marco has won thanks to a lot of historical buildings along the perimeter - there is literally no "average" structure. And the square has repeatedly become the scene of motion picture scenes, overgrown with a lot of legends and just became a cult place for everyone visiting Venice.

How to get there

The San Marco square is the very center of Venice, where every walker walks the city water. The architectural dominant - the bell tower, again in honor of St. Mark's - you can see it from almost anywhere (unless you swam to some very distant channel)

What to see It is abundant with «must-see» on one area only. San Marco could easily envy the European city of the middle hand. Here are the columns of St. Mark and St. Theodore, and the magnificent Doge's Palace, and St. Mark's Cathedral with the eponymous clock tower, as well as the Old and New Procurations, the wing of Napoleon and, finally, the outstanding library, as you might have guessed, also bearing the name of the apostle.

Area

Getting to know the area of ​​San Marco begins with a "waiting room", affectionately called local "piazzetta" - "pavilion". Landed at the stop "San Marco" (meaning, of course, the moorage of the Grand Canal), you find yourself just on the piazzetta - a small rectangular space, at the end of which stands the bell tower of St. Mark, marking the beginning of the big piazza.

Columns Columns of San Marco and San Todaro -. First memorial meeting San Marco visitors rather its Piazzetta. The column of St. Mark is crowned with a bronze statue of a winged lion of a very respectable age - it was cast at 5 in BC in Assyrian Tarsus. It must be said that from the original lion to this day little came - the stormy history of the sculpture preserved only some parts, the last restoration was carried out in 1991. The lion appeared on the banks of Venice thanks to the soldiers of the Crusades in the 11th and 12th centuries

The column of Saint Theodore is crowned with a statue of this saint, patron saint of Venice. Pay attention to "tame" a crocodile in St. Theodore's legs - it symbolizes the power of the city in the seas

Italy, Venice, San Marco

St. Mark's Square

Doges Palace

The Amazing Doges Palace was built in the 14-15 centuries in the Gothic style and served as the residence of the Doges of the Venetian Republic, as well as the seat of the Grand Council, the court and the Senate. Front balcony on the facade served as a platform for the Doge, who thus greeted the people and guests swim up along the Grand Canal. St. Mark

The main cathedral in Venice and one of the most visited attractions, the Cathedral of St. Mark was founded in the 9th century, and the present appearance was received by the end of the 15th century. Inside are the relics of the apostle Mark, the head of the apostles James and Titus, the icon of the Virgin "Nikopaeus" and the relics of the martyr Isidore. Aesthetic features in it even more - magnificent gate mosaics, flying domes, quadriga of St. Mark, tetrarchs, etc. Well, real pearls of interior decoration - dome mosaics on biblical themes.

St. Mark's Clock Tower

"Orolodjo" ( "clock") - the so-called clock tower of St. Mark, which is fraught with a lot of interesting "chips" . Let's start from the top, note the bronze statue of the old man and the young man, beating the bell: the first 5 minutes before the hour, the second - 5 minutes after its beginning, the symbolism In this way, the past and the future can be seen . A little lower you can see a lion with an open book - the symbol of Venice, even lower - the Virgin with the Child Christ, finally - a luxurious 24-hour gold and blue clock, richly decorated with enamel and gilding .More by the hour you can find the current sign of the zodiac and the phase of the moon .

San Marco Library

The largest and most important library in Italy, San Marco has more than 13 thousand valuable manuscripts, and books do have a number. Among the masterpieces of the collection are two lists of the Iliad of the 5th and 6th centuries, as well as the first book printed in Venice. From the beginning of the 17th century, the library received a compulsory copy of every book printed in Venice. Two white buildings with Renaissance grace are facing the Grand Canal, decorated with sculptures and stucco.

Address: Venezia, Piazza San Marco.

View of St. Mark's Square and Venice

St Mark's Belltower

Views of Palazzo Ducale

Palazzo Ducale

Elements Palazzo Ducale

St Mark's Belltower

Reviews of St. Mark's Square (4)

Evaluation 9

Ambiguous impressions November 18, 2014

Sssmoscow

was here in February 2012

Of course, the area is very beautiful. But - as in any other European city. I was somewhat disappointed, most likely from the fact that there were high expectations. The architecture of buildings, of course, is amazing ... but many boutiques and restaurants, for example, spoil the picture. But I repeat, this is the case everywhere in Europe. From boutiques I managed to dissuade, but we still visited the restaurant. The one in which, allegedly, Casanova was before his escape from Venice. The female half of our tourist group remained in ... Read full review

Evaluation 10

One of the most beautiful squares in Italy May 21, 2014

Tatiana

was here in September 2012

No doubt, St. Mark's Square in Venice is the main square of the city, and probably the entire region. On this square, excursions begin and end, it became one of the symbols of Italy. Many learn St. Mark's Square by the numerous pigeons, which are photographed and fed tourists. By the way, special crunches are sold for pigeons. Although the city authorities have imposed a ban on feeding pigeons for sanitary reasons, no one is monitoring compliance with this rule. The square is located ... Read full review

Evaluation 10

San Marco Square - elegant European living room 22 April 2014

Len_Chik

was here in June 2012

This square is the most recognizable for those who were here. Graphic drawing and its characteristic outlines can not be confused with any area of ​​the world. The most luxurious area of ​​the world is always filled with pigeons and tourists. Sometimes it is filled with water. Some tourists specially come here during the "big water". We were in the beginning of June. Throughout the city on the streets there were platforms, along which it was possible to navigate the flooded streets. We watched people in the most luxurious restaurant in San Marco ... Read full review

Evaluation 10

The heart of Venice where you should have a cup of coffee 12 March 2014

Sole

was ) here in May 2013

The most festive and solemn place of Venice is St. Mark's Square. There are always a lot of people, at any time of the year. The noise is somewhat tiring, because it's great to come to San Marco before dawn, or after midnight. An unparalleled dawn can be found sitting on the stairs at the Piazzetta of San Marco. It is only better to bring a thermos with coffee - at this time all cafes and restaurants in Venice are closed.
After lunch, it's great to sit in a cafe on the piazzetta. Oleg Yankovsky liked to sit there and look at the sea and people. He wrote about it ... Read full review