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ST. MARKS SQUARE VENICE, ITALY

Wouldn't it be wonderful to get married in Venice, Italy and what a wedding that would be!

St Marks and Piazza: Basilica di San Marco - Chiesa d'Oro

Piazza San Marco of course wouldn't be the Piazza San Marco without the Basilica di San Marco. Aptly known also as the Chiesa d'Oro (Church of Gold), it is one of the most richly embellished churches in the world. The basilica is topped with an enormous cupola that is surrounded by several smaller ones. As with many of the other churches in Italy, the fascade of the church is decorated with marble. In addition to the marble, there are beautiful mosaics depicting scenes from the life of Christ and St. Mark. According to legend, St. Mark's body was smuggled out of Alexandria in A.D. 828 into Venice (hence, the name of St. Marks...Theodore, the Greek saint was patron saint of Venice up until this point). When inside the Basilica di San Marco, you must set your eyes onto the Pala d'Oro, a golden altar screen set with 300 emeralds, 300 sapphires, 400 garnets, 100 amethysts, and 1,300 pearls. Be aware that churches in Italy strictly enforce a modest dress code. No shorts, no bare shoulders or arms, and no skirts above the knees are permitted in the Basilica. Additionally, no pictures are permitted and silence must be observed. HOURS: Basilica and Presbytery Apr-Sept Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm, Sun 2-5:30pm Oct-Mar Mon-Sat 10am-4:30pm, Sun 2-4:30pm. Treasury Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm; Sun 2-5pm. Marciano Museum Apr-Sept Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm, Sun 2-4:30pm Oct-Mar Mon-Sat 10am-4:30pm, Sun 2-4:30pm ADMISSION: Basilica free Treasury 2€ Presbytery 1.50€ Marciano Museum 1.50€. I spent mid-night mass there one x-mass eve and also new years eve and WOW that was something I will never forget.
Address: Piazza San Marco
Directions: VAPORETTO: San Marco

St Marks and Piazza: St. Marks in the morning

Get up early one morning and make your way to St. Marks Square before the (other) tourists arrive. (I'm talking about being in the Square about 6am) With any luck not too many other people will have had the same idea, and you will be sharing it with some pigeons, a photographer or two, and later, the street cleaners (who still use twig brushes... what's that all about?). It is unrecognisable from the Square you will see at mid-day when it fills up with noise, people & music. Later on, if you don't want to pay the 15 - 20 euros for a cup of coffee at one of the famous bars such as Florian or Quadri, try Bar Americano next to the Basilica, where an expresso is only 1 euro! (listening to the orchestras in Venice is free.)
Directions: Sounds crazy as it's the biggest and most famous landmark in Venice, there are signs on most corners for "PER S. MARCO".

St Marks and Piazza: Piazza San Marco

There is only one Piazza in Venice, San Marco. Any other open square in this city is not allowed this title, and is simply called a Campo. But Piazza San Marco is perhaps the most dramatic and famous Piazza in the world. It has always been the focal gathering place for all Venetians, rich and poor alike. Now, thousands of tourists fill that role every day. Easily a day could be spent in the Piazza and it’s immediate surroundings, which include: - Venice’s Basilica San Marco, with rich and lavish art inside and out - The world class Museo Correr - Campanile which towers over the square - The beautiful and mechanically genius Torre del’Orologio (Clock Tower) - The Doges Palace, a museum in itself - The Bridge of Sighs - The famous Café Florian any time of year, there will be many tourists flooding in the piazza to see these sites. If you can visit early in the morning, you may have the Piazza to yourself (and a few pigeons), it becomes pure magic. NOTE: The tradition of feeding the pigeons on St. Mark's Square in Venice has finally come to an end. The city has made feeding the pigeons illegal, YES illegal and those who break the law could be fined €50-€500. The square's pigeon-food sellers have been forced to shutter their kiosks, some of which have been in the family for generations. According to city officials, Venice's 40,000-some pigeons are a health risk and a nuisance. I also agree with this new law.

St Marks and Piazza: Basilica di San Marco

The Basilica di San Marco is a stunning Byzantine-style basilica in the heart of the Piazza San Marco. It is an intriguing blend of architectures and just adds to the beauty of fabulous Venice. You can enter the main part of the Basilica for free and it is well worth it - the interior is very impressive - lots of gold mosaics. They look particularly spectacular when the sun shines thorough onto them. Another way to admire the Basilica is to take a seat in the Piazza, and toast to its beauty with a glass of vino or two! NOTE: The Agents of Venice's "Urban Decorum" office will be back on patrol at St. Mark's Square. All Tourists will be asked to refrain from sitting on the pavement, eating sandwiches on the square, or going without shirts. Yes can you image that, no more walking around like bums. The seven female "guardians of decorum" have been nicknamed "Vestali," a reference to ancient Rome's Vestal Virgins of caretakers for an important temple. Venice is also limiting the sale of fast food in the piazza to cut down on trash. This should be interesting as I always expected this new law.
Address: Piazza San Marco
Directions: Nearest Vaporetto stop: San Marco

St Marks and Piazza: San Marco

Symbol of Venice. On the San Marco Square are the Basilica di San Marco and St. Marco Bell Tower - Campanilla. The Bell Tower is 99 m high and this is the reconstruction of the Campanilla which came crashing down in 1902. You can hear the sound of the bell called the "marangona". And of course you can see great panorama views of Venice from the tower. When the weather is sunny you can see too far away Alps. You don`t have to climb to the top, the tower has a lift.
Address: Piazza San Marco
Phone: 041-522-40-64
Directions: Everyone knows this place.

St Marks and Piazza: San Marco's Church

San Marco's Basilica is probably the most important monument in Venice. The story of this church starts before its construction, in 829, when the body of St. Mark was stolen from Alexandria (Egypt) to Venice. Three years later there was the consecration of the first church of Saint Mark. But it is only in 1063 - under the Doge Contarini - that this church (as we know it) was built. From 1071 to 1084 there was the great mosaic decoration. (The story of this building is too long for a wedding page). Inside there are mosaics and many statues that are very important, lots of them stolen from Costantinopoli (as the Golden Pala). In 1807 - ten years after the fall of the Venetian Republic - this Basilica became the must see of the Patriarch of Venice, San Pietro a Castello.
Address: San Marco's Square
Directions: San Zaccaria's Vaporetto stop.

St Marks and Piazza: Bronze Horses of San Marco

If you go upstairs in the Basilica and onto the large outside balcony you'll find four stylized bronze horses presiding over the Piazza San Marco. It's a grand spot to hang out for awhile, with views of the Piazza, the Piazzetta, and the Venetian Lagoon. These horses outside are replicas. The originals were taken from the Hippodrome in Constantinople during the Crusades, and are inside now to protect them from pollution. They're just inside the door from the balcony, in the museum part of the Basilica. Here you'll also find some original mosaic pieces from the Basilica. It was great to be able to see some mosaics up close, in addition to all of those way up high on the ceiling.
Address: Piazza San Marco

St Marks and Piazza: St. Mark's and the Piazza - Can't Miss It

Although Venice seems daunting at first, it really becomes small. You tend to run into the same people you first meet on the vaporetto into the watery city. Since all calles lead to Piazza San Marco, it is easy to find. Visit it anytime during the day, evening, or night and you will find something colorful to please your senses. In the morning, enjoy the calm of the piazza before the crowds mob the area. In the afternoon, enjoy a light lunch on the piazza while people watching. In the evening, enjoy the music that echoes throughout the piazza as you have dinner by twilight. Of course, don't miss San Marco. This church is really neat because of the frescos and colored marble that adorn the outside. The typical Venetian architecture is pleasant to look at! -See my tip on Basilica di San Marco. HOURS: Anytime ADMISSION: Free!
Address: Piazza San Marco
Directions: VAPORETTO: San Marco Piazza San Marco, follow the signs.

St Marks and Piazza: The third thing you must see in Venice.

The Basicila, the huge church at Piazza San Marco. Go take a look at the line, with a waiting-time for about 40-50 minutes (exclusive the time it would have taken to leave my bag at another place at the piazza, since you aren't allowed to bring anything with you inside), check it out late in the day for short lines. Anyway, the church is amazing. Another place is the building next door which is the Dogdes Palace, so don't pass that up.
Address: Piazza San Marco
Directions: Just follows the street that are all over town.

St Marks and Piazza: Torre dell'Orologio

This tower and clock lead through to the Merceria, the main path leading into the Piazza. Built in 1496, the architecture of the tower and mechanics of the clock are both amazing examples of art and craftsmanship of that time. The clock, besides displaying the time, also shows the phases of the sun and moon and the movement of the sun through the signs of the zodiac. The bell at the top is struck every hour by 2 bronze moors, cast in 1497. If you’re here on January 6th, you should see the 3 Kings appear from the doors on the side.

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