|
| |
Piazza San Marco
From:
Venice's Top 11 Free Sights

ABOVE: A view of the Piazza and Campanile di San
Marco from the arcades that surround the square.
The
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.
Some
Venetians claim that pigeons outnumber the tourists. Certainly there are plenty
of them, although their numbers have dwindled since the city began enforcing 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 sliding down a balding scalp.)
Tips:
-
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
Top photo copyright © Velsilvio.
| |
Hotel tip:
Location can be important when
choosing a hotel in Venice or on the mainland. Before booking, read our
No. 1 Warning
and Venice Hotel
Recommendations by Area.

From our
Venice Travel Blog:
A water taxi ride to Venice Airport
A
warning about water taxis
Venice Railroad Station: a vaporetto view
Long lines at Venice Airport
Free boat trips to Murano
Need to
pee? Prepare to pay
The perils of overpacking
Flood
warning: the sound of sirens
Stupid tourist
tricks
Johnny Depp's palazzo
Venetian daily life

From
Maggie in Venice:
A dog's life in Venice
A
Beagle boards a water bus
Venice Carnival for dogs
Venice cruise review:
|