Columns of San Marco and San Teodoro, Historic columns at Piazzetta San Marco, Italy
The columns of San Marco and San Teodoro are two ancient granite structures standing at the entrance of Piazzetta San Marco, each topped with a statue. They form one of Venice's most recognizable monuments and mark the transition between the water and the historic plaza beyond.
These columns were brought from the East around 1000, with a third column lost during its arrival in Venice. They have shaped the appearance of this important entrance zone for over a millennium and testify to Venice's early trading connections.
The winged lion atop one column represents Venice's power and connection to Saint Mark, while the other shows Saint Theodore overcoming a dragon. These statues reveal the protective saints that local people and visitors have honored for centuries.
The columns stand directly at the water's edge near Piazzetta San Marco and are easy to reach on foot from the main square. Visiting during daylight hours provides the best light for viewing details and taking photographs from different angles.
A peculiar local custom holds that people avoid walking between these two columns, as the space once served as an execution ground in medieval times. This belief persists today and lends the spot a curious historical weight.
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