St Mark's Square

St Mark's Square in Venice is one of the main Italian squares renowned for its beauty and known worldwide, so much so that Napoleon called it the 'salon of Europe'.
It is located in the heart of Venice and is the only square named as such, while other similar spaces are called 'campi' and 'campielli'.

Being in the lowest area of the city, it is the first area to be affected by high tides. In these cases, pedestrian transit in the square is ensured by the installation of walkways.
This situation will occur less frequently thanks to the MOSE project, mobile barriers at the lagoon inlets that are activated when tides rise.

In the square, you can find the Doge's Palace and the Basilica of San Marco with its bell tower, offering a splendid view as the tallest building in the city.

The monumental area of Piazza San Marco consists of three sections: Piazza San Marco, Piazzetta San Marco, and Piazzetta dei Leoncini.

Piazza San Marco

The actual square is enclosed by the Procuratie Napoleoniche, Vecchie, and Nuove.

Here you can find the Basilica of San Marco, the cathedral of Venice and the center of public and religious life.
It is definitely worth visiting to admire over 4,000 square meters of mosaics and 500 columns from the 3rd century.
Gold dominates the Basilica, where the body of Saint Mark is also preserved.
The visit is free, but some parts require a fee, such as the Museum, the Treasury, and the Pala d'Oro. You can also book a combined ticket with the Doge's Palace.

Between the Piazzetta dei Leoncini and the Procuratie stands the Torre dell'Orologio, completed in 1499. The clock's uniqueness lies in its carillon system, which is activated only on Epiphany and Ascension Day, with wooden statues representing characters from the Nativity and the Three Wise Men appearing at each hour.

Piazzetta San Marco

Piazzetta San Marco is an extension of the space in front of the Doge's Palace and is characterized by the two granite columns featuring the statues of the patron saints of Venice, Saint Theodore and the Lion of Saint Mark.
In the past, capital punishments were carried out between the two columns, which is why Venetians still prefer to walk around them instead of passing through.

During the Carnival, the best acrobatics took place in the small square, and to this day, the flight of the dove occurs from the Bell Tower towards the pier.

Piazzetta dei Leoncini

Piazzetta dei Leoncini is located to the left of the Basilica of San Marco and is delimited by two crouching lion statues, giving the square its name.