Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco is the principal public square of Venice, Italy, located in the sestiere of San Marco. It is the civic and religious heart of the city and is flanked by several of Venice’s most important buildings.

The square contains major monuments including St Mark’s Basilica, the Campanile and the Procuratie arcades, creating an architectural ensemble that defines Venice’s historic centre. The open space is used for civic events and is lined with cafés and shops on its three sides.

Origins of the square date to the early medieval period and its form was consolidated over centuries through successive building campaigns. Significant works include the enlargement of the piazza and construction of the Procuratie; the Campanile collapsed in 1902 and was rebuilt using the original design, completed in 1912.

Situated on the edge of the Venetian Lagoon, the square opens onto the Piazzetta that leads to the St Mark Basin. It sits at the eastern end of Venice’s main island and is a short walk from the Rialto area and the Grand Canal.

• Best time to visit: Early morning and late evening provide the best light for photography and fewer crowds; the square tends to be busiest between late morning and early afternoon.
• Access and conditions: Access by vaporetto to the San Marco stop places you immediately beside the square; footwear should be comfortable as surfaces can be uneven and occasionally flooded during acqua alta.

What to See #

• St Mark's Basilica: Principal church with its Byzantine mosaics and the Pala d'Oro altarpiece; main building dates to the 11th century with later additions and restorations.
• Campanile: Freestanding bell tower reaching 98.6 metres that offers panoramic views over Venice and the lagoon; the current tower is a reconstruction completed in 1912 after the 1902 collapse.
• Piazzetta: The open terrace linking the square to the lagoon, framed by the Doge's Palace and the columns of St Mark and St Theodore; historically used as the ceremonial entrance to the city.
• Procuratie: Two long arcaded buildings flanking the square that contain shops, offices and historic cafés dating from the 16th to 18th centuries.
• Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio): Renaissance clock tower on the north side of the square with an early 16th-century astronomical clock-face showing hours, phases of the moon and zodiac signs.