Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square), Venice > Reviews (5)

If you are not staying in Venice itself, you will usually arrive by a ferry boat that usually drops you at the mouth of the grand canal. There are a lot of different "bus" stops here so try and remember the number of the stop so you can locate it on your way back!!

Once you have left the boat you will find yourself on a large walkway with buildings on one side and the open water on the other! It is very strange to know you are in a city with no roads! Once you are off the boat, take a left as this will lead you to St Marks Square and the hub of Venice.

As you are walking along (depending on how far up you were dropped) you may go over a number of stunning bridge that traverse the smaller canals running into the city. Take a look to your right as you go over and you will see some picture postcard views of the local life and houses.

Before you reach the entrance to St Marks Square you will go over a slightly larger bridge and you will probably see many people looking to the right and photographing. This is because up this last channel is the famous Bridge of Sighs. This bridge joins the prison of Venice with the old court house (part of the palace of the dogs) and this was known as the last look the prisoners would have before they went into their cell in prison.

Once you have crossed this bridge you will see an opening in the buildings, this is the entrance to St Marks Square. On your right is the famous palace and you will pass through the centre of 2 columns. This part of the square was built a while after the original part when the new palazzo was built. As you are entering the square on your right is the palace and as you past this you will see the over whelming Basilica. On this from right to left, the story of St Mark is told in picture paintings.

To your left is the main square (trapezoid) and is an impressive site! Surround on 3 sides by columns and the fourth being the front of the basilica, this is breathtaking no matter time of day, year or how busy. By night this is a magical place where live orchestra's play and couples of all ages dance in the low light. A real tear jerking moment in you are deeply in love!

If you visit this square, don't miss the opportunity to go inside the Basilica. You may have to queue a little and you cannot take in rucksacks or large bags, but it is all well worth it! I have been in some impressive churches and cathedrals in my time but this takes your breath away. The architecture and art is the finest I have ever witnessed!

Take a walk upstairs (they are quite steep) and you can go out at the front on the roof and look over the square and Venice. This a superb opportunity to witness the glory of the square in this beautiful city.

There are two famous clocks in the square. One is a late edition and is in a tower of its own (by late edition I mean the 1500s although please don't quote me on this date as I am not sure!) It is possible for you to go up this tower and witness Venice from a high! The second is often missed and is actually directly opposite you on entering the square as above.

It is very famous for having many clock faces and for its extraordinary detail.

As most will advise you, the cost of a coffee in one of the café's around the square is pretty expensive as you are paying for the location. I settled for a can of coke on one of the steps for the same effect!!

There are a lot of pigeons in the square but the numbers are dwindling over the years. If you do wish to feed them, you MUST buy only the food the official sellers will give you as this is treated with a substance that can make the birds infertile. This is used to control the numbers of pigeons that can become health hazard!

Be wary of some of the souvenir stands in the square as quite often just off the square you can buy exactly the same at half the price!!

Venice is a truly magical city and if you make it as far as St Mark's square, please don't stop here!! It is not a difficult city to navigate, look high on the corners of buildings for signs to the landmark attractions and remember, all paths lead to the square somehow!!

There is some fabulous shopping in Venice, and other places of great interest are the Rialto Bridge (my personal favourite), the Academia (the less famous, but only Wooden Bridge over the Grand Canal), and my favourite eatery the Café Di Rialto.

If you do go I hope you have a fabulous time, I am very jealous! This is by far my favourite city in the whole world! Please mail me if you have any specific questions about the city and I will offer help and advice if I can!