St. Mark’s Square in Venice: a handy guidebook to fully discover it

St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) is an open space that connects the south side of the square with the lagoon. The square is located between the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) and the Biblioteca Marciana. The area is incredibly beautiful and interesting, and certainly a must-see, even if you spend only one day in Venice.

St. Mark's Square is the largest and most important square in Venice and one of the most famous in all of Italy, inspiring even Napoleon who ended up calling it the "Salon of Europe". However, it is not the square surface that gives the square its well-deserved fame, but all the monuments that surround it and the interesting plans to be made from the Piazza.

At the open end of St. Mark's Square there are two large granite columns. At the top of the first column sits St. Theodore (the patron saint of the city before St. Mark), who is holding a spear with which he is believed to have killed a dragon (this is a copy of the original found in the Doge's Palace).On the second column is a lion, the symbol of St. Mark. Both statues were believed to guard St. Mark's Square and the city in general.

The origin of these two statues is not very clear. From the 12th century, they started to become popular and, in the 18th century, public executions took place between the two. Because of that, if you want to keep the Venetian tradition while visiting St. Mark's Square, you should avoid passing between the two columns. Throughout history they have been the center of some public trials and the scene of several miracles.

If you book a tour of St. Mark's Square you will be informed in detail of these and other stories and anecdotes that will captivate you. A walking tour, lasting two hours, in which you will discover not only the square but also the Basilica without the long queue that can be seen every day at its gates.

Incredibly beautiful and an absolute must-see, St. Mark's Basilica is the jewel of St. Mark's Square and arguably one of the most beautiful churches in all of Italy. Built with Byzantine touches, it is full of incredible details. I recommend you see its fantastic mosaics, the relics of St. Mark himself and the four bronze horses (these have a very interesting history).

Touring the inside of the church is free. However, unless you show up early, be prepared to wait quite a while before entering: wait times regularly exceed 45 minutes! To avoid this, I recommend queuing up before the basilica opens its doors in the morning. St. Mark's Basilica opens at 9:30 a.m., so I suggest being there at 8:30 a.m., especially during the busy July and August season.

Another more convenientalternative is to book the direct entrance to St. Mark's Basilica, which saves you from waiting in line and also includes access to the Pala D'Oro and the terrace, for which there is a fee. You can also choose to book a guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica. You will see how quickly you will have access to the interior of one of the most important monuments in Venice.

For the most iconic views of Venice, from St. Mark's Square head straight to St. Mark's Bell Tower, the tallest building you will see from there and "part" of the structure of this iconic square.

From the tower itself, you'll have a fantastic view of the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica, the Venetian Lagoon, the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs.

And, unlike most views from the top, this tower doesn't include the exertion factor in its equation. Instead of climbing hundreds of stairs to the top, you can simply take the elevator. For more information about St. Mark's Bell Tower visit the following website.

There are several beautiful cafes scattered along the edges of St. Mark's Square where you can relax after your tour of St. Mark's Square. I recommend you try both the Venetian coffee and the pastries served on the side. Plus, you're sure to hear live music while enjoying the spectacular views from the square. The prices are somewhat eye-catching, as they include the location in the price. Breakfast at the Salon d'Europe (Napoleon's name for St. Mark's Square) comes at a cost.

Caffe Florian is by far the most famous coffee shop in the square. It opened its doors in 1720 and is considered the oldest coffee shop in all of Europe.

Enjoying an Italian coffee in a 300-year-old café while contemplating the nearly 1,000-year-old basilica and reflecting on all the milestones that have occurred in the area is something I highly recommend.

Located right on St. Mark's Square, the beautiful Correr Museum has a tendency to hide in plain sight (largely due to how large the square is and the many historic buildings that surround the site). Still, if you book the tour of St. Mark's Square you will be told in detail where it is located so you can visit it next.

If art is something you appreciate, this magnificent museum of art and history is sure to quench your artistic thirst. Despite its relatively small size, it includes some of the most curious and sought-after works from all over Europe. For more information visit the museum's official website.

If you look near the front facade of St. Mark's Basilica, you will see four of the most famous statues in Venice: the St. Mark's Horses. I recommend you stop to take a close look at them, as in the past they were one of the most prized riots, as they symbolized power and status.

In 1797, Napoleon took the horses and placed them on top of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, until in 1814 they were returned to Venice, to the place where they belonged.

It is worth noting that today the horses facing St. Mark's Square are replicas; however, you can also see the originals if you book a guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica.

It's hard to look up walking through St. Mark's Square and not see the impressive St. Mark's Clock Tower (or in Italian, Torre dell'Orologio), with its beautiful blue face and adorned with golden zodiac symbols. At 500 years old its facade is still intact and just as striking as when it was first unveiled.

Although it may not look like it has much to offer from the inside, believe me that the interior tour of the St. Mark's Clock Tower will show you a fascinating and secret side of this beautiful building. So I highly recommend it once you have enjoyed booking a tour of St. Mark's Square.

Tours can only be guided, so you have no choice but to book a ticket on the official site of the tower.

The Acqua Alta is a phenomenon that occurs periodically in Venice when the Adriatic Sea rises in level. When this happens the city is slightly flooded, especially in its lower areas.

Venice's famous acqua alta (high water) **often touches St. Mark'**s Square. If you go from November in Venice to February in Venice, you may see St. Mark's Square with a different presentation.

As St. Mark's Square is the lowest point in Venice, when there is Acqua Alta, it is the first place to flood. When this happens, the authorities set up wooden walkways for locals and tourists. Several times a year, the square is completely flooded; however, there is nothing to worry about as it is not dangerous. In fact, many visitors want to see Venice in this state and walk around the square on the walkways.

The square comes alive at dusk when the weather is no longer so warm. It is worth walking around the square among the famous cafes and listening to the various bands playing live music.

Also, by far St. Mark's Square is the best place to be at night in Venice. I say this not only because of its lights, its monuments and the pleasant temperatures; but, because of the ambiance, the atmosphere and the happiness that is contagious at that time of the day .

Here are some tips that will come in handy to make the most of this iconic square and not miss anything along the way. Keep in mind that it is a must-see, even if you are only in Venice for one day, and pay close attention to the best times to enjoy the area and the rules to which this square, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is subject.

Start your tour of Venice in St. Mark's Square

While it is true that there is plenty to do around the city such as seeing the bridges of Venice or taking a traditional gondola ride, do not forget that St. Mark's Square is the best known area of the city and the place with the highest density of historical monuments to see and visit per square meter.

Starting with a tour of St. Mark's Square will mean that you can spend the rest of your time getting around Venice to appreciate the other sights. Also, starting by visiting the square is a smart move, as you can avoid the tourist crowds at late hours at some of the monuments in the square such as St. Mark's Basilica or the St. Mark's Bell Tower.

Show up either very early or very late

Personally, I recommend you to visit Piazza San Marco from 8 pm onwards, regardless of whether you go to Venice in spring or in winter. This is because you will be able to enjoy a fully illuminated square, more beautiful than usual and with much less hustle and bustle.

If you are looking for the same feeling going to Venice in summer, your best bet would be to visit it early (between 7 and 8 am). Not only because you will be able to appreciate every detail of the square with greater precision and comfort, but also because the temperatures in those early morning hours are more comfortable.

Don't forget to take a night walk through St. Mark's Square

St. Mark's Square at night is at another level, not only because its iconic monuments are illuminated to captivate even more tourists, but simply for its night atmosphere.

At night you can appreciate how the music begins to resound in almost any corner of the square, street artists will make you enjoy a nice music even without paying absolutely nothing. And best of all, you can also recover your energy in some of the many places to eat near St. Mark's Basilica (in the same square).

Rules to follow in St. Mark's Square

It is forbidden to eat and drink in Piazza San Marco. It is not allowed to litter or give food to pigeons. If you bring food and need to recharge your batteries, I suggest you go to the Giardini ex Reali, a former royal public garden near St. Mark's Square.