piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco is the principal public square of Venice, Italy, located in the sestiere San Marco. It has been the city’s political and civic heart since the Middle Ages and is dominated by St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.

The square is lined by the arcaded Procuratie buildings and open to the lagoon at its seaward end. Key landmarks that define the space include St Mark’s Basilica, the neighbouring Doge’s Palace, and the tall St Mark’s Campanile which stands at about 98.6 metres and serves as a major viewpoint. The square is also home to historic cafés and museums and is used for public ceremonies and events.

The layout grew up around the basilica in the early medieval period and was shaped over many centuries; major construction phases span the 11th through 18th centuries, leaving a mixture of Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance elements. The current appearance of the open square and many surrounding façades dates largely to that long period of incremental development.

The piazza sits at the seaward edge of central Venice, opening onto the Basin of San Marco and the Riva degli Schiavoni. It is reached on foot from the city’s canals and vaporetto stops and is the focal point of Venice’s historic centre.

• Crowds and timing: Best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon to avoid the largest crowds and to see the façades in softer light.
• Flooding (acqua alta): The square periodically floods during high tides known locally as acqua alta, most often in autumn and winter; low-lying areas are affected first.

What to See #

• St Mark's Basilica: The basilica on the square dates mainly from the 11th century and was consecrated in 1094; it is the city cathedral and contains the relics of Saint Mark.
• St Mark's Campanile: The bell tower that stands beside the square rises to about 98.6 metres and is the principal viewpoint over Venice and the lagoon.
• Doge's Palace: A Gothic civic palace built and modified between the 14th and 16th centuries that served as the seat of Venetian government and administration.
• Procuratie and arcades: Long arcade buildings along the north and south sides of the square, historically housing the offices of the procurators and now occupied by museums, shops and cafés.