Where is piazza san marco

Have questions about Piazza San Marco? Ask them here! Enjoy the comfort of a home rental in Venice and Veneto. Toggle navigation Rent your vacation villa in Italy with us! Search Villas Italian villas by region Amalfi Coast. Sorrento Coast. Cilento National Park. Lake Como. Rome and Latium. Capri and Ischia. We have separate pages covering exploring Venice by foot including notes on the walk from the bus and train station to St Mark's Square and using the Venice water transport. It is the one of the best known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture.

The cathedral declares the wealth of Venice over centuries with its domes and turrets and gold mosaic standing out over the square and over much of Venice. The cathedral is open to the public, though very restricted opening hours on Sundays and other special occasions and with seasonal variations. Full details about the history of the cathedral, admission prices, tours available etc are at the official website linked below.

St Mark's Basilica - official website. Number one tourist destination in Venice: St Mark's Square. St Mark's Square as well as being the largest square is also one of the largest open spaces in Venice, a big contrast to the winding alleys and lanes within Venice where you are hemmed in by the buildings most of the time. The square is at the end of the Grand Canal and the waterfront is a delight going eastwards, a wide promenade.

In front of the square are the water bus stops and water taxi jetties as well as being the most popular location for taking gondola rides. North of the square are narrow streets full of shops leading towards the famous Rialto Bridge, or go west into a pocket of high fashion designer stores finishing with an extremely expensive Bellini at Harry's Bar.

Along here you can cross one of the four bridges, Accademia Bridge to the slightly quieter south island of the city. Your access to the Bridge of Sighs: Doge's Palace. Until , the Doges ruled the Venetian Empire and Doge's Palace Palazzo Ducale was where they ruled from dispensing justice, taxes etc. One story is that he ordered it built because the granary that stood here blocked his view of the Grand Canal. With so many things to do in and around Piazza San Marco, hotels close to the square are deservedly popular.

These highly rated hotels near St. Mark's Square are handy to many of the city's most important tourist attractions. Italy Travel Guide.

Mark's Note: Some businesses may be temporarily closed due to recent global health and safety issues. Mark's Basilica Ever since the remains of St. Read More: Exploring St. Campanile Campanile Giving the broad expanse of Piazza San Marco its vertical dimension is the campanile, the tall brick bell tower for the basilica.

Bridge of Sighs Bridge of Sighs Connecting the Doge's Palace with the Prigioni, a grimmer-than-grim prison for those convicted of crimes or political offenses by judges in the examining rooms of the palace, Ponte di Sospiri crosses the narrow Rio di Palazzo. Piazzetta and Libreria Sansoviniana Piazzetta This charming square forms a wide promenade between the Grand Canal and Piazza San Marco , which flows into it in front of the basilica.

Libreria Sansoviniana The Libreria Sansoviniana facing the Palazzo Ducale , is the masterpiece of Sansovino, the architect and sculptor, who worked on it between and Procuratie and Ala Napoleonica Procuratie and Ala Napoleonica The beauty of Piazza San Marco is largely due to the elegant symmetry and harmony of its three sides, enlivened by the burst of the basilica's over-the-top architecture.

Archeological Museum Ancient Greek theater mask, Archeological Museum The chief attraction of the Archeological Museum, near the Campanile in the Procuratie Nuove, is the unique chance to compare Classical archaeological finds with later Roman copies and even later Renaissance art to appreciate the tremendous influence of the early works. San Zaccaria San Zaccaria Not actually in Piazza San Marco, but just behind the basilica in Campo San Zaccaria, this was the church of Venice's most elite and prestigious convent, populated and enriched by daughters of Doges and other wealthy pillars of Venetian society who took their vows here.

Where to Stay near St. Mark's With so many things to do in and around Piazza San Marco, hotels close to the square are deservedly popular. Facing the Grand Canal at the main Vaporetto stop where airport boats land , the luxury Hotel Londra Palace is a landmark in the grand hotel style. The mid-range hotel, which occupies a nicely restored traditional Venetian residence, is only 50 meters from St.

Breakfast is included at the attractive, mid-range Ca' dei Dogi , just behind the Doge's Palace, but there is no elevator. Mark's and the San Zaccaria stop for airport boats. Guests rave about the helpful staff and the rooms overlooking the lagoon. Mark's Square Tours of St.

Mark's Basilica , you can walk right past the long slow-moving line outside the great landmark and learn about its spectacular interior as you admire its sparkling mosaics and other artworks. Your expert guide will point out all the architectural and historical highlights on a walk around the square, then you'll escape the crowds again as you walk through the quieter streets with your guide, visiting lesser-known attractions for insights into daily Venetian life.

Tours of St. Combine the basilica with a tour of the Doge's Palace and a motor-boat tour of the Grand Canal, skipping the lines with your guide for direct access to the city's two most popular attractions. On a walking tour of St.

Mark's Square, you'll learn about all the architectural highlights, then explore uncrowded back streets for a glimpse into Venetian life. Round out your adventures with a motor-boat tour past the Grand Canal palaces. Tours for Families with Children: Keeping children interested and engaged in sightseeing can be a real challenge, but the guides of the Venice Sightseeing Walking Tour for Kids and Families know how to do it.

The tour is designed with young travelers in mind, using an entertaining commentary, iPad games, and interactive activities to keep kids amused as you visit sights such as the Marco Polo house, Campo San Bartolomeo, and the Rialto Bridge.

Engaging stories bring these and other Venice highlights alive for children. Discover destinations, find outdoor adventures, follow the journeys of our travel writers around the world, and be inspired. More on Italy Italy Travel Guide. Venice with Kids: 12 Top Things to Do. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication in part or whole without prior written consent prohibited by international laws. The basilica is built in the shape of the Greek cross with a dome positioned above each arm and the central crossing point.

The interior of the church is like a jewellery box, with vast expanses of the walls decorated in glittering, golden mosaics. Mosaics cover around 40, square feet of wall space, with each tiled image depicting a religious event or biblical story. Having been seized several times during wars and battles, these represent the power of the Venetian Republic.

The origin of the horses is unknown, but they could have been made in ancient Greece as early as the 4 th century BC. Originally stolen from Constantinople in , the horses remained in Venice for years until they were looted by Napoleon in They were finally returned by the Duke of Wellington after he defeated Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo.

Due to the damage inflicted by weather and pollution, the original horses were moved inside the basilica and exact replicas were placed at the front of the building.