Cheryl and Durant ImbodenDurant & Cheryl Imboden's
Venice for Visitors
veniceforvisitors.com
Google
 
"Best of the Web" - Forbes and The Washington Post
Europe Rome Paris
Italy Florence Cruises

Venice - Home

Where to Stay

Arriving in Venice
Local Transport

Money
Sightseeing
Gondola Rides
Murano/Glass
Top 11 Free Sights
Venice Cruises
All Topics

Weather
Map
Links

Photos
Fisheye  Venice


map

Venice Hotels
Use Venere's interactive map, browse our Venice Hotels Directory, or find hotels near:

Piazza San Marco
Venice Airport
Railroad Station
Cruise Terminal

photo

Venice Tours and Day Trips
Book excursions before you leave home.


Europe for Visitors

About Us
Advertising
E-mail


Currency Converter

 

 

Piazza San Marco

From: Venice's Top 11 Free Sights

Piazza San Marco

ABOVE: A view of the Piazza and Campanile di San Marco from the arcades that surround the square.

photoThe Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark's Square, is one of the world's great squares. It's also a honeypot for swarms of daytrippers and other tourists, but don't let that bother you: The square is vast, the crowds are good-natured, and backpackers coexist peacefully with the well-heeled tourists who enjoy overpriced drinks and orchestral music at the café tables.

photoSome Venetians claim that pigeons outnumber the tourists. Certainly there are plenty of them, although their numbers may dwindle now that the city is trying to enforce an ordinance against feeding the birds. (Tip: Rick Steves suggests letting pigeon poop dry before brushing it off; this may work on clothing, but it's less effective when the poop is draining off a balding scalp.)

photoTips:

  • From fall through spring, the square and the neighboring Piazzetta occasionally resemble a wading pool as acqua alta storm tides force pedestrians to put on boots or keep their feet dry on elevated walkways. The flooding doesn't last long, so if you see the waters rising, put on your wellies or come back when the tide recedes.

  • Don't picnic or sunbathe on the steps in the arcades that surround the square, or you'll be shooed away by enforcers from the city government.

  • If you have time and money to spare, consider visiting the Campanile or bell tower, the Torre dell'Orologio or clock tower, and the Museo Correr beneath the banner at the arcaded end of the piazza.

Related articles:

Piazza San Marco

San Marco by the Numbers

Campanile di San Marco

Fisheye Venice: Piazzetta

Next page: Basilica di San Marco


In this article:
Venice's Top 11 Free Sights - introduction
1 - Piazza San Marco
2 - Basilica di San Marco
3 - Venice Waterfront (St. Mark's Basin)
4 - Grand Canal
5 - Rialto Bridge
6 - Rialto Food Markets
7 - Venetian Ghetto
8 - Canali, Campi, and Calli
9- Churches
10 - Shopping Streets
11 - Islands of the Lagoon
Printable 'Top 11 Free Sights' list for your trip

Also see:
All Venice sightseeing articles - Index

Top photo copyright © Velsilvio.


Home

Copyright © 1996-2008 Durant and Cheryl Imboden and their licensors.
All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy