St. Mark's Square

Since 829, when some of St. Mark's bones were transferred here from Alexandria; this old chapel of the Doges has served as a religious center for the city. St. Mark's Basilica became immeasurably wealthy when Venetian crusaders returned with ships laden with Byzantine art treasures following the fall of Constantinople. All of Europe recognizes the basilica as a symbol of Venice and Italy because of the richness and artistry that have been bestowed on it throughout the years. Marveling at the Treasury's gold reliquaries and icons, along with its inlaid marble floors and ethereal, dazzling mosaics, is one of the classic things to do in St. Mark's Square Venice.

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The Doge's Palace is located right next to St. Mark's Basilica, and its calming, airy style and pastel hues draw the eye of tourists and locals alike. The Sala Del Maggior Consiglio, with its priceless oil painting by Tintoretto, is a centerpiece of the palace's interior, just as the palace's facade is a marvel in its own right. The palace features a number of works of art by notable artists such as Bellini, Veronese, Carpaccio, and Titian, as well as Sansovino's golden stairway. In ancient Venice, the Doges' Palace served as the seat of power, and visiting it is one of the remarkable things to do in St. Mark's Square Venice. The legendary Doge of Venice built this enormous palace, which is so well furnished that it virtually functions as a separate city, during his reign.

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One of the top things to do in st marks square Venice is to visit the towering brick bell tower known as the Campanile, which is part of St. Mark's Basilica. The tower which began in 1173 and was finished in 1514 connects the Piazza to the smaller Piazzetta. The tower is a popular landmark in the square, and ships passing by could once utilize its height as a reference point. The tower's roof is slanted, and it culminates in a golden tip. In 1902, the tower's original structure fell, and in 1912, its replacement was completed. The modern tower was built in the same fashion as the previous by recycling its original stones and carvings. As if that weren't enough, between the two sets of columns are four bronze works of art by Sansovino.

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Mauro Codussi planned and directed the building of the clock tower from 1496 to 1499. The tower's massive clock was crafted by Ranieri and his son; it displays the time, the moon's phase, and the constellations corresponding to the current date. Also, atop the tower are two massive bronze figures that are hinged at the waist and strike the hours on a bell. In order for the entire city to be visible from the Lagoon, the clock tower was erected, and it has since become an emblem of Venice's prosperity and prestige.

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The white limestone used to construct the elaborately ornamented Bridge of Sighs originates in modern-day Croatia, in the region of Istria. It crosses the Rio di Palazzo, features bars made of stone in its windows, and links the Doge's Palace interrogation rooms to the New Prison, or Prigioni Nuove. Architectural mastermind Antonio Contino was responsible for this late-16th-century masterpiece. The footbridge connected the prison's examination rooms and the Prigioni's cells, and while it looked pretty while doing so, its real purpose was to get the inmates to and from their cells.

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With the Grand Canal flowing into it and the St. Mark's Square Venice leading up to the basilica, Piazetta’s attractive space becomes a broad promenade. Piazetta is a spectacular approach for tourists, being open to the sea and bounded on the right by the Palazzo Ducale. The Sansovino Libreria Vecchia arcades may be seen on the left, with the campanile and the protruding porch entrance to the Basilica di San Marco in the background. Both the Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio) and the Procuratie may be seen in the distance. The Libreria Sansoviniana, which was built between 1536 and 1553 and overlooks the Palazzo Ducale, marks the definitive split from Gothic Venice and the beginning of a new era for Venetian architecture. Titian's frescoes, Veronese's ceiling medallions, and Tintoretto's portraits adorn the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana's display rooms, which are housed in this structure. The shows feature a stunning array of precious stones, exquisite calligraphy, and beautifully illuminated volumes.

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The three sides of St. Mark's Square Venice are elegantly symmetrical and harmonious, while the basilica's ostentatious construction provides a welcome burst of color and contrast. Former Republic administrative headquarters, the Procuratie line both the north and south sides of Piazza di San Marco.The third and final building on the square was commissioned by Napoleon I during his stay in Venice, which lasted from 1805 to 1814. After demolishing Sansovino's chapel of San Geminiano on the western edge of Piazza San Marco in 1807, Napoleon ordered the construction of Ala Napoleonica.

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Nearby the Campanile in the Procuratie Nuove lies the Archeological Museum, where visitors can compare and contrast original Classical artifacts with Roman reproductions and Renaissance works, all of which help to provide light on the profound impact the earlier works had on later artists. Gemstone cameos, ivory carvings from the Byzantine period, and ancient Assyrian sculptures dating back to the eighth and seventh centuries BC can be found alongside the classical sculptures that influenced the Venetian Renaissance artists. Two mummies, alongside statuettes and canopic jars, are on exhibit in the modest Egyptian area.

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The elegant façade of San Moisè is only a short walk away through the corridor in the southwest corner of the street. The 1668 Baroque front of this church, designed by Alessandro Tremignon, is universally admired. Although many find its exquisite details and sculptures to be unnecessary, locals in Venice adore them. The church's bell tower, which stands behind it, is a separate structure made of brick. Upon entering, you will notice a Baroque statue of Moses on the High Altar and a 1732 Pieta on the inside wall of the front.

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Not in St. Mark's Square Venice itself, but close by in Campo San Zaccaria, stands the church of the most famous and exclusive convent in all of Venice, where the daughters of the Doge and other prominent Venetians made their vows. The current church and convent were constructed between 1444 and 1504, replacing an earlier structure that had been completed in 827 and housed relics of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, a gift to Venice from the Byzantine Emperor Leo V. You can find the artifacts still here, beneath the next altar on the right.

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The Giardinetto is located not in Piazza San Marco proper but rather along the Molo to the west of St. Mark's Square Venice. The name of this small green oasis, which features fragrant rose and oleander plants, lakes, and shaded benches, comes from its position and dates back to the 1800s. The Procuratie Nuove, Napoleon's regal residence, once stood on this very site. The granary that had stood on this site is supposed to have obscured his view of the Grand Canal, which is why he ordered its construction.

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