Europe has plenty of ordinary public squares but none compare to Piazza San Marco. One could spend their entire vacation taking in the many sights. There are a dozen fantastic things to see, including the Basilica di San Marco.



Many visitors are attracted to the site just for the opportunity to stand in the ancient square. They flock from all over just to see the sights of the Basilica, the Campanile, the Doge's Palace and more. What's more, there is no traffic or noise to bother them; unlike many other public squares in Europe.

The piazza started out in the 9th century as nothing more than an open space outside of a church that has now been replaced. It was enlarged and reshaped into its current three sided area by the latter half of the 12 century and rapidly became a meeting place of the rich, poor, grand as well as humble. The all important offices of the Republic were located here and it was also where all the major festivals were held.

Doge's Palace is also one of the best sights to see. The Palazzo Ducale di Venezia was the Palace of the Doge of Venice, who was the leader of the government. It was erected in the 14th century and incorporated several features which were considered innovative at that time. These include a series of arches on the lower story as well as heavier sections above them. It is now a museum, which holds paintings by Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese as well as many other famous artists that lived during that period.

Nearby is the Bridge of Sighs, which led to a 1600-era prison. It gained its present name from the poet Lord Byron in the 19th century. The thought was that prisoners would utter a sigh as they were led into the Doge's prison after seeing the loveliness of Venice for the last time. Also, as legend has it, two lovers who kiss under the bridge in a gondola at sunset will enjoy love everlasting.

Another must see sight in the square is The Campanile, which is the bell tower of St. Mark's. The current Campanile di San Marco was completed in the year 1912. Designed as an exact replica of a structure that stood earlier but collapsed ten years prior, it had once stood for nearly 500 years. It acted as both a bell tower for the cathedral as well as a watchtower for the military from the 10th century. Just the bell tower alone makes a trip to the square worthwhile. Wait until you see how the warm Venice summer sun catches the roof and splashes across the entire square.

Another outstanding sight in Piazza San Marco is the Moors' Clock Tower, or the Torre dell'Orologio. The tower was completed in 1499 and does much more than just offer the time for the local residents. It also adds immense beauty to the area. It contains five bays and two enormous statues made of bronze and still remains one of Venice's most magnificent public works. The clock possesses a series of concentric dials that tells the time, tells the sign of the zodiac and also indicates the placement of the sun and the moon.

With so much to see in this part of Venice, visitors can be thankful for the Caf Florian which sits nearby. It's been serving visitors and locals alike since around 1720. The coffee they serve will give you all the energy you need to see all that St. Mark's has to offer.