Piazza San Marco, Principal square in Venice, Italy
The Piazza San Marco extends 175 meters in length and 82 meters in width, framed by the Procuratie buildings and St Mark's Basilica.
The square emerged in the ninth century and reached its current dimensions in 1177, becoming the center of Venetian political and social activities.
The square contains the Doge's Palace, St Mark's Basilica, and the Campanile, representing the pinnacle of Venetian Gothic and Byzantine architecture.
The square experiences regular flooding during Acqua Alta, requiring elevated wooden walkways for pedestrian access throughout multiple periods of the year.
Between the two granite columns at the square's entrance, the Venetian Republic conducted public executions until the 18th century.
Location: Venice
Inception: 9 century
Architectural style: Renaissance architecture
Length: 175 m
Width: 82 m
GPS coordinates: 45.43400,12.33800
Latest update: November 21, 2025 15:25
Venice offers multiple photo opportunities. The Rialto spans the Grand Canal while houses in Burano display different colors. St Mark's Square presents the Byzantine basilica, campanile and Doge's Palace. The Bridge of Sighs connects the palace to the prison. The islands of Murano and Torcello feature glasswork and historical monuments.
Venice is naturally suited for romantic getaways, with its winding canals, historic palaces, and squares full of history. This selection gathers places that make the city so popular among couples: Saint Mark's Square with its basilica and campanile, the Bridge of Sighs where tradition invites you to kiss in a gondola, or the quays of Fondamenta delle Zattere stretching along the Giudecca Canal. The Grand Canal, the main artery measuring 3.8 kilometers long, reveals 170 palaces built between the 13th and 18th centuries. This collection also includes characterful accommodations set within authentic Venetian residences. The Gritti Palace occupies a 15th-century palace overlooking the Grand Canal, while Ca' Bonfadini features its frescoed salons in the Cannaregio district. To extend your stay, the La Fenice Theatre offers opera performances in a restored 18th-century setting after the 1996 fire. San Giorgio Maggiore island, accessible by vaporetto, allows you to view the city from its campanile with an unobstructed perspective over the urban area.
St Mark's Basilica
143 m
Bridge of Sighs
224 m
St Mark's Campanile
80 m
Horses of Saint Mark
118 m
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana
118 m
Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs
137 m
Doge's Palace
190 m
St Mark's Clocktower
106 m
Columns of San Marco and San Teodoro
153 m
St Mark's Clock
92 m
Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Venice
60 m
Loggetta
91 m
Treasury of San Marco
143 m
Doge's Palace
192 m
San Basso
152 m
Chiesa di San Teodoro
213 m
Porta della Carta
147 m
Palazzo Patriarcale
181 m
Museo dell'Opera
200 m
Museo Correr Library
77 m
Negozio Olivetti
40 m
National Archeological Museum
60 m
Sala del Maggior Consiglio - Palazzo Ducale
195 m
Column of San Marco
165 m
Ponte del Cavalletto
64 m
Ponte Compagnia della Vela
130 m
Ponte dei Dai
58 m
Lion of Venice, Piazzetta San Marco
166 mReviews
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Choose the time of your visit wisely to make the most of the atmosphere in the square, and why not visit Café Florian?
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