Holiday in Venice And Visit St Mark’s Square
If there’s one thing Europe has an abundance of, it’s ordinary public squares. But few of them compare to Piazza San Marco. You could spend an entire vacation taking in all the wonderful sites St. Mark’s has to offer. There are a dozen things to see but the Basilica di San Marco is one of the most fascinating.
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 started out in the 9th century as nothing more than an open space outside of a church that has now been replaced. It was enlarged and reshaped into its current three sided area by the latter half of the 12 century and rapidly became a meeting place of the rich, poor, grand as well as humble. The all important offices of the Republic were located here and it was also where all the major festivals were held.
Doge’s Palace is also one of the best sights to see. The Palazzo Ducale di Venezia was the Palace of the Doge of Venice, who was the leader of the government. It was erected in the 14th century and incorporated several features which were considered innovative at that time. These include a series of arches on the lower story as well as heavier sections above them. It is now a museum, which holds paintings by Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese as well as many other famous artists that lived during that period.
The Bridge of Sighs is not very far away from the square. The bridge led to a prison from the 1600 era, but it gained its current name from poet Lord Byron in the 19th century. The name comes from the thought that prisoners would sigh at the breathtaking sight of Venice before seeing it for the last time as they entered the Doge’s prison. As the legend goes, two lovers who kiss in a gondola under the bridge as the sun sets will experience eternal love.
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.
Another outstanding sight in Piazza San Marco is the Moors’ Clock Tower, or the Torre dell’Orologio. The tower was completed in 1499 and does much more than just offer the time for the local residents. It also adds immense beauty to the area. It contains five bays and two enormous statues made of bronze and still remains one of Venice’s most magnificent public works. The clock possesses a series of concentric dials that tells the time, tells the sign of the zodiac and also indicates the placement of the sun and the moon.
With so much to see in this part of Venice, visitors can be thankful for the Caf Florian which sits nearby. It’s been serving visitors and locals alike since around 1720. The coffee they serve will give you all the energy you need to see all that St. Mark’s has to offer.
