Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco is the only one in Venice that locals call piazza – square. Other similar places bear the humble name campo – field. This emphasizes the importance of the landmark for Venetians and visitors alike. Over the centuries, the square has been modified. Today it has the shape of a trapezoid, reaching 175 meters in length and 82 meters in the widest part. San Marco concentrates the main historical and cultural attractions of Venice, so every year 20 million pairs of feet of tourists from all over the world walk on its sidewalk!
- Origin story
- Architectural highlights
- Opening hours and ticket prices
- Where to eat
- Interesting facts
Origin story
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Architectural landmarks
Piazza San Marco consists of two parts: the Piazzetta and the Piazza. The Piazzetta is the area from the Grand Canal to the bell tower, and the Piazza is the square itself directly in front of St. Mark’s Basilica.
The Columns of St. Mark and Theodore. Stepping off the vaporetto, two marble columns come into view. One of them is crowned by a sculpture of St. Theodore, the former patron saint of the city, and the other by a sculpture of a winged lion, which is the symbol of St. Mark. These columns are notional gates, but no Venetian passes between them. In the past, commoners were executed here, and locals would often see another hanged man dangling from a rope in the morning, so it is considered bad luck and bad manners to walk between the columns.
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Opening hours and ticket prices
1. St. Mark’s Cathedral
In high season, the basilica is open from 9.45am to 5pm. On Sundays and religious holidays from 14.00 to 17.00. Entrance is free.
.The Treasury welcomes visitors at the same time. The entrance fee is 3 euros.
.St. Mark’s Museum is open from 9.45 to 16.45. The ticket price is 4 euros.
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Pala d’Oro is open from 9.45 to 17.00 on weekdays. And on weekends and public holidays – from 14.00 to 17.00. The entrance ticket costs 2 euros.
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In low season, the closing time of all establishments is one hour earlier.
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2. Doge’s Palace
From April to October, the Doge’s Palace is available to the public from 8.30am to 7pm. And from November to March, the attraction operates on a reduced schedule – from 8.30 to 17.30. The price of the combined ticket was 17 euros. It is also valid for admission to the Archaeological Museum, the Correr Museum and the National Library of San Marco.
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3. The Bell Tower of San Marco
From July through September, the bell tower is open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. In March, April, October – from 9.00 to 19.00. In November and Easter on a short schedule – from 9.30 to 15.45. The entrance fee is 8 euros.
.Where to eat
After a busy tour, you’ll work up an appetite. But we don’t recommend having lunch in one of the many cafes in Piazza San Marco. Just for a cup of coffee here they ask for 10 euros. And the bill for the main Venetian dishes, such as Moleche, Risotto nero and Fegato alla veneziana can be 100 euros. Therefore, it is better to get away from the tourist center. After all, expensive does not always mean delicious. Eateries on the square are used to a large influx of tourists and do not always cook to perfection. Restaurant owners do not care so much whether customers like the food or not: in a day or two they will leave, and in their place will come new ones. For a tasty and economical meal, it is better to go to the residential neighborhoods, where there are inexpensive restaurants frequented by locals. These can be found in the Castello neighborhood on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, as well as in the Canareggio neighborhood along Fondamenta della Misericordia and Fondamenta degli Ormesini.
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Interesting facts
Walking around Piazza San Marco may soon become a toll. According to a statement by former City Hall Councillor Augusto Salvadori, he is pushing for cash registers and turnstiles to be installed at the entrance. In addition, the politician believes that the price of 7.5 euros for traveling along the Grand Canal is too low, considering raising the cost to 10 euros. This would help make life a little easier for the citizens, as the stops filled with commuters would empty out a bit.
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On their website, Venice authorities have published an appeal to visitors to the city. They ask not to use suitcases with plastic wheels, which rumble on the paving stones under the windows of Venetians at any time of day or night, because of which the mayor’s office receives numerous complaints from citizens. Tourists should do away with “noisy” bags by using wheels filled with air or liquid. It is likely that this request will soon be approved as a local law, with penalties for violation.
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