Piazza San Marco in Venice can be roughly divided into two parts: the piazzetta and the piazzo. The Piazzetta is a small area between St. Mark's Square itself and the Giudecca Canal. It welcomes guests with an entrance gate in the form of two granite columns. To the right of them stands the Doge's Palace (the rulers of the city), to the left is the Marciana Library, and the piazzetta ends with the Bell Tower. The center of attraction is the Cathedral of San Marco - the main attraction of the city. No less interesting are the buildings of the Procuration, the Clock Tower, and the Loggett. Modern look, shape and size it acquired by 1777. Now its length is 175 m, width 82 m.
A nice bonus only for our readers - a discount coupon when paying for tours on the website until March 31:
The history of this amazing place goes back to 829. Venetian merchants who had trade business in Egyptian Alexandria managed to secretly remove the relics of the great Christian saint, the Apostle Jesus Christ - the Evangelist Mark, hiding them in a sarcophagus among pig skins. Apparently they noticed that Muslims never touch “unclean” cargo. The plan was a success, customs inspection bypassed them, and the relics arrived safely in Venice.
To accommodate them, the Basilica of San Marco was built, and the square in front of it was named accordingly. In 976, during a fire, the building was severely damaged. A majestic cathedral was built in its place. The square gradually expanded, became the center of the city, all political events took place there, folk holidays and even executions.
Acquaintance with the sights begins for tourists as soon as they get out of the vaporetto (sea taxis). Piazza San Marco is home to a number of historical buildings and structures.
The first thing guests see when stepping onto the pavement of the piazzetta are two granite columns. They were brought from Constantinople in 1125, and installed only in 1196. The columns are monolithic and very heavy, each weighing more than 100 tons, which is why they could not be installed for a long time. One of the columns is crowned with a marble statue of St. Theodore with a spear trampling a dragon. This scene symbolizes the power of Venice over the sea elements. Saint Theodore was the first patron of the city and is still very much loved and revered by the Venetians.
On the capital of another column is a bronze winged lion holding a paw on an open Gospel. The lion is the biblical symbol of St. Mark. He is depicted on the coat of arms of Venice. This figure is more than 2,500 years old; according to one version, it was brought from China, others see in it an example of Assyrian art. In former times, the space between the columns served as a place for executions. To this day, Venetians consider it a bad omen to pass where death sentences were carried out.
According to existing legend, the evangelist Mark preached Christianity in Venice Lagoon. Once, caught in a terrible storm, he waited it out. An angel appeared in a dream and announced that he would find eternal peace on this earth. And now, for 12 centuries, the relics of the saint have rested under the arches of the cathedral named in his honor. At first glance, the Cathedral of San Marco amazes with its magnificence. The basilica, built in 829, was badly damaged by a fire in 976, so they decided to build a new building in its place. The cathedral acquired its modern appearance in 1094.
At that time, the influence of Constantinople on Venice was great. Therefore, the building was erected in a pompous Byzantine style, with luxury uncharacteristic of temple buildings Western Europe. The marble facade is decorated with numerous columns, towers, bas-reliefs, and sculptures. The mosaic compositions with scenes " Last Judgment" and "The theft of the relics of St. Mark."
The cathedral has five entrance portals. Above the main one there is a majestic bronze quadriga (four horses). The sculptures are attributed to the work of an ancient Greek master of the 4th century BC. They decorated triumphal arch Nero in Rome, and then the Arch of Trojan. The Venetians got it as a trophy of war. The temple is crowned with five domes lined with silver rectangular plates.
The interior decoration is no less fascinating. Due to the abundance of gold, San Marco Cathedral is often called the “Golden Cathedral”. The vaults, walls, and domes are covered with mosaics made of multi-colored Murano glass. The dome is painted with scenes of the “Creation of the World.” But the main jewel is under the altar: this is a shrine with the relics of St. Mark.
The Golden Altar is a great work of Gothic art made in 1345. Its dimensions are 3.50 * 1.4 m. It depicts episodes from the Holy Scriptures and the life of St. Mark. The precious frame contains enamels and 2,500 stones: amethysts, emeralds, sapphires, rubies. The iconostasis is made of silver, covered with a layer of gold, decorated with many enamel plates, precious stones.
The building was built in 1499 under the direction of the architect Coducci. The composition consists of four parts. Its main element is a blue and gold astronomical clock. There are two circles on the dial: outer and inner. The golden hand shows the time in the outer circle. On the inner side there are signs of the zodiac and phases of the moon. Above the clock is a copper statue of a seated Madonna and Child Christ. Twice a year, on Epiphany and Ascension, the Magi appear before her, bowing in bow.
On both sides of the statue there are small rectangular windows where the current hours and minutes are indicated. Above is a sculpture of a winged lion holding an open Gospel in its paws. The tower is crowned with bronze statues of two Moors: an old man and a young man. They have long hammers in their hands, with which they periodically strike the bell: 5 minutes before the whole hour and after 5 minutes. This is a symbol of time passing forward.
The library is located on the north side of the piazzetta. The length of the building is 80 m. It was built in 1537-1545. designed by the architect Sansovino. Initially, the library was intended to store ancient Greek and Latin first-printed books and manuscripts (handwritten scrolls), presented to the city by Cardinal Bressanone.
In subsequent years, it was replenished by war trophies, monastery and family collections. Now the library of San Marco (Marciana) has about 40 thousand unique copies. The white marble facade is very elegant, decorated with a balustrade of statues and columns. The interior decoration is no less exquisite: on the walls there are portraits of famous thinkers and philosophers, and manuscripts in exquisite bindings are kept in the gilded hall.
The building is in the Venetian Gothic style, decorated with columns and openwork arches, creating an impression of airiness and lightness. It is located on one side to the sea, with the facade facing the square. The Staircase of Giants leads to the palace, on both sides of it there are two huge statues symbolizing war and the sea: Mars and Neptune. Between them at the top is a bas-relief of a winged lion. Here the elected doges took the oath.
The Doge's Palace was built in the 14th century and had several purposes:
In the halls of the magistracy, laws were discussed, political and church issues were resolved, ambassadors and diplomatic missions were received. The trial was held in the Senate hall, and the court tribune of the 18th century has been preserved to this day. The interior of the palace amazes with its luxury. The walls and ceiling are covered with marble, tapestries, leather with gold trim.
The decoration is provided by paintings by brilliant artists such as Titian, Tintoretto, Pordenone, and frescoes by Paolo Veronese. Some depict scenes glorifying Venice: victorious battles, formation of a fleet, naval battles. On others - episodes from the Holy Scriptures, gods ancient world. Special attention A worthy unique collection of weapons: combat, decorative, trophy. In total, the exhibition includes 2031 items, including the armor of the French king Henry IV, the crusader knights, the Turkish standard, sabers, and muskets.
Procuratorates were built to house the highest officials of the executive branch - procurators. Their responsibilities included the execution of decisions of the Doge and the Senate in financial, legal, property, political and other spheres. The first Procuration - the Old - was built on the northern side of the square in 1532. This is a long three-story building with arches, loggias, and columns. Due to the growing bureaucracy, one building was not enough.
In 1586, the New Procurations were built opposite it. And in 1810, by order of Napoleon, another building was built in the west of the square - Ala Napoleonica (Napoleon's wing), connecting both Procurations. All buildings were built in uniform style Renaissance. Nowadays there are museums on the upper floors, while the lower floors are used as cafes.
The Loggetta is a small, elegant building designed by the architect Sansovino in the Baroque style, adjacent to the bell tower. Construction time: 1537-1540. The facade is made of white and colored marble, decorated with columns, bas-reliefs with scenes from ancient mythology, statues of gods. For a long time, Loggetta served as a meeting place for noble patricians. Later it housed the guards of the Doge's Palace. Now through Loggetta you enter the observation deck of the bell tower.
Campanile - observation deck and bell tower of the Cathedral of San Marco. At the base it has the shape of a square with a side of 12 m, a height of 98.6 m. It is built of brick, crowned with a marble belfry with five bells, decorated with statues of the goddesses of Justice, Venus, Minerva, and the figure of a winged lion. The bell tower ends with a pyramid-shaped spire, on top of which there is a weather vane with a golden archangel 2 m high.
The first tower on this site was built in the 9th century and served observation deck and a lighthouse. IN early XVI built centuries new option bell towers. It stood for almost 400 years and collapsed in 1902. The work went on for ten years, and original appearance was completely restored.
Pigeons of steel integral part Piazza San Marco. According to legend, many guests came to the consecration of the cathedral. Among the gifts were two pigeons, which were released into the wild. They sat on the cornice of the cathedral, which was considered a symbolic sign; doves were considered sacred. Since then, a tradition has developed to protect and feed the birds.
Over time, a great number of them multiplied. For sanitary reasons, and to limit offspring, pigeons are fed special food. Until 2008, bags of cereal could be bought on the square, but then sales were stopped and tourists were prohibited from feeding the birds.
The opening hours of attractions in Piazza San Marco vary depending on the season. The high season is April–October, the low season: October–April.
St. Mark's Cathedral:
During low season, visiting hours are reduced by an hour. Entrance to the Cathedral with luggage is prohibited; you cannot take photos or videos, speak loudly, or wear revealing clothes.
Piazza San Marco is a visiting card and the main tourist spot of Venice, which will not be ignored by any of the tourists visiting famous city on the water. Today we will take a short photo walk around San Marco and admire it from different angles.
1. St. Mark's Square faces the embankment with its side part, the Piazzetta. And tourists are greeted from the water side by two columns - St. Mark and St. Theodore. Strangely enough, Saint Theodore is installed on the capital of the column of St. Theodore, but the column of St. Mark is crowned with the image of the Winged Lion - one of the symbols of Venice.
2. One of the main buildings of St. Mark's Square is the pompous Doge's Palace - the former residence of the rulers of the powerful Venetian Republic.
4. Having passed through the Piazzetta, lateral area, leading to the water, we find ourselves directly on the main Venetian St. Mark's Square. There are quite a lot of tourists here even in winter - some are taking photographs, some are feeding fat Venetian pigeons, some are sitting in a cafe, some are just strolling, with their heads raised at the luxurious facades. But this is still normal - in summer there is simply no crowd here: the absence of crowds of people is one of the main advantages of Venice in Winter.
5. The tallest building in San Marco is the bell tower, 99 meters high. This bell tower was originally built in 1514, but completely collapsed in 1902 - the reason was the numerous earthquakes and lightning strikes to which the tower was exposed over the 400 years of its existence, as well as general wear and tear of the building. When the bell tower fell, the corner of the Doge's Palace closest to the bell tower was also destroyed. Fortunately, no one was injured when the building collapsed - only the caretaker's cat was missing. They decided to restore the tower to its original form - the restored bell tower was opened in 1912.
6. Panorama of the square, bell tower and St. Mark's Cathedral.
7. There are several restaurants and cafes on San Marco, most of which have been operating for several centuries and have themselves become symbols of the city. However, eating in these establishments will cost a pretty penny - but you will drink the same cup of coffee that some high-ranking doges drank three hundred years ago. :))
9. The luxurious façade of St. Mark’s Cathedral is the main attraction of the square of the same name, and, perhaps, of the whole city too. Part of it was covered with scaffolding, but it was possible to look at the details of the central and left parts of the facade in more detail. Very beautiful - like in a museum! However, in fact, Venice is a city-museum. :))
19. Another interesting building overlooking St. Mark's Square is the Clock Tower, built in 1496-1499.
22. This blue-star background behind the winged lion for some reason reminded me of the symbols of the European Union. 1496-1499. Smiled. :)))
23. Some of the most beautiful panoramas of the square open from the observation terrace of St. Mark's Cathedral. General view of the square.
24. Panorama of the Piazzetta, the side of San Marco facing the water.
25. Horses and a clock tower in the background.
This is the only place in the city that the Venetians themselves call pyatsa - square.
Residents of the city call the remaining squares campo or campiello - field or small field. In the 9th century it was a small site near St. Mark's Cathedral. In 1777, the square acquired its current size. Nowadays, St. Mark's Square has the shape of a trapezoid with a length of 175 m, a width in the wide part of 82 m, and a width of 56 m in the narrow part.
The northern side of the square is occupied by the building of the Old Procurations, and the southern side by the building of the New Procurations. Attached to the Old Procurations is a clock tower with a bell, which is struck every hour by bronze statues, and the dial is decorated with the signs of the zodiac. These buildings in the western part are connected by the arcades of Fabrica Nuove, giving the square the appearance of a huge courtyard. In the southeast corner stands the bell tower of San Marco. The height of the bell tower is 99m.
However, the main attraction of the square is St. Mark's Basilica - the cathedral of Venice, which gives the square its name. Until 1807, the cathedral was the court chapel at.
Advice: You can get into the cathedral without a queue by purchasing a ticket in advance online for 5 euros.
According to legend, in 828, two Venetian merchants Rustico and Buono stole the body of St. Mark and took it out of Alexandria, after hiding it in pig carcasses. The basilica was built to store the relics of St. Mark, which was consecrated in 832. In 976, a fire practically destroyed the basilica, but by the end of the 10th century it was restored. New construction of the cathedral according to the Byzantine model (Church of the Twelve Apostles of Constantinople) began in 1063, and in 1094 the cathedral was consecrated. Over the next centuries, the cathedral was decorated and expanded. Every foreign ship that came to port had to provide a precious gift to the cathedral. Many relics ended up in the church after the sack of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204.
St. Mark's Cathedral becomes the religious and political center of the Venetian Republic. Grandiose official ceremonies were held in the cathedral: the coronation and presentation of the new doge to the townspeople, the blessing of troops before the war (in particular before the 4th crusade). Here Captain Marco Polo received his blessing before sailing.
The cathedral was built and completed over more than 4 centuries. This affected architectural style. The cathedral is a harmonious mixture of eras and styles.
The predominant style is Byzantine, but this is true for general view and domes. The addition of antique columns and bas-reliefs, Gothic towers and arrows, facing with oriental marble - all this gives reason to conclude that the Cathedral of San Marco is a unique architectural monument, made in its own Venetian style.
The cathedral building was built in the shape of a Greek cross with dimensions of 76.5 m by 62.5 m, the height of the central dome is 43 m. The interior of the church is represented by a varied iconostasis, statues of the apostles and numerous mosaics. 
Today, the Cathedral of San Marco is a functioning temple where services are held. And such relics as the relics of St. Mark, the relics of the martyr Isidore, the image of the Virgin Mary “Nicopea” make the Cathedral of San Marco the center of Christian pilgrimage.
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The area changed a lot in the 15th-17th centuries. Then a decision was made on a new project for this territory, which was provided by the architect Sansovino. It was thanks to these changes that the old buildings along the perimeter were demolished and new ones were built, most of which have survived to this day. Among all the other buildings of this building, one can highlight such as the Library, the buildings of the New Procurations, the Clock Tower, and the Mint.
Piazza San Marco has always attracted artists from all over the world. Many paintings show us the state of this place at different times. Characteristic feature square until the 18th century (and it was then that the new restoration) was its pattern, lined with red bricks, “drawing” a kind of herringbone. During the restoration, the red brick was replaced with gray tiles, which greatly undermined the beauty and popularity of this part of Venice among artists.
The most popular attractions of St. Mark's Square today are: Columns, Old and New Procurations, Ala Napoleonica. Moreover, even among them, even more popular buildings can be distinguished - these are the Cathedral of San Marco and the Doge's Palace. This is where you will see the most high building Venice - the bell tower of St. Mark's Cathedral, whose height is almost 99 meters, in past times it was a beacon for those ships that entered the lagoon.
The most recognizable inhabitants of St. Mark's Square are pigeons. Moreover, there are so many of them here due to the fact that almost all tourists feed them, helping to increase their numbers. By the way, you can do this too, the food is sold right there :) And for people there are wonderful cafes that are famous for their delicious coffee and desserts.
Piazza San Marco
Address: Piazza San Marco, Venezia, Italy
It also includes the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, located opposite.
Most of the main and iconic attractions of Venice are concentrated in San Marco.
Its central part is St. Mark's Square (piazza di San Marco), which was the political core of the Venetian Republic. The dominant feature is the beautiful, carved palazzo, which is the residence of the Venetian rulers, i.e. Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale).
Piazza San Marco. Venice.
Nothing has survived from the original 9th-century building. The palace began to take its current form in 1340.
In 1439, by order of Doge Francesco Foscari, work began on the Paper Gate (Porta della Carta), above the door of which the Doge kneeling before the Lion of St. Mark is depicted.
San Marco. Venice.
The name of the gate comes from the state archive that was located here. From here, sentences and orders were read out, and written petitions were also submitted to the government.
The palace suffered fires several times and was rebuilt. In the 16th century over interior decoration Titian and Veronese worked on the palace.
In the 17th century The New Prison building was erected. It was connected to the palace by the Bridge of Sighs, along which the convicts made their way from the Court to the prison, took their last look at the world and sighed.
After the fall of the Venetian Republic, the administration of Napoleon and the Austrian government met in the palace.
After Venice became part of a united Italy, the palace was restored and has housed a museum since 1923.
Next to the palace is Basilica of St. Mark (San Marco).
According to legend, Saint Mark was returning from Aquileia to Rome. On the way, he was caught by a storm, and he stopped on one of the islands.
An angel appeared to him in a dream and predicted that the saint’s body would rest here. This is what happened when in 828 two Venetian merchants returned from Egypt with the relics of the evangelist. Merchants stole the saint's body from Alexandria and brought it to Venice.
From that moment on, Saint Mark became the patron saint of the city, and his sign - a winged lion - was a symbol of Venice.
St. Mark's Basilica is the largest religious building in Venice and a rare example of Byzantine architecture in Europe.
The first church on this site was erected in 828 for the relics of St. Mark. In the 9th century, the first bell tower was added.
The basilica received its modern appearance in the 11th century; it was based on the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Constantinople. Until 1807, the cathedral was a court chapel at the Doge's Palace. And in 1807, St. Mark's Basilica became cathedral cities.
The Church has played an important role in the history of the Venetian Republic in all centuries. It was the center of religious and social life, the place from which consecrated dogs came out.
Now the cathedral is both a functioning temple and a museum, filled with untold riches and artistic treasures.
The facade and interior of the basilica is a mixture of styles and eras.
The facade with five portals is lined with precious marble and decorated with mosaics. It is divided into two parts by a terrace on which are installed four horses made of gilded copper, sent from Constantinople to Doge Enrico Dandolo in 1204 (this is a copy, the original is kept inside). The quadriga once adorned the Hippodrome of Constantinople, but was removed during the Fourth Crusade.
The interior of the basilica is typically Byzantine, with a Greek cross on the plan. The church has three naves separated by columns, powerful arches support five domes decorated with mosaics, the earliest of which date back to the end of the 11th century.
The first mosaics appeared under Doge Domenico Selvo (1071-1084), later they began to invite masters from Tuscany, who introduced a new technique.
The area of mosaics is 4 thousand square meters, they depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments, the creation of the world, the global flood, heavenly manna, and episodes from the life of St. Mark.
Everything is located in chronological order, starting from the dome above the main altar, then moving to the central dome, where the earthly life of Christ is depicted, then the appearance of the Holy Spirit and, finally, the triumph of the Church in Paradise - above the entrance door.
The richest Altar image (Pala d'Oro) is a skillful panel made of gold, silver and precious stones in the 10th-14th centuries.
The basilica houses numerous relics, including the relics of the Apostle Mark, the head of the Apostle James the Younger and Titus, the relics of the martyr Isidore, and the image of the Mother of God Nikopea.
The Bell Tower of San Marco sets the dynamics of the square and is one of the tallest in Italy. Its height is 98.6 meters. In the past, the bell tower served as a watchtower and a lighthouse for ships. It often suffered from earthquakes, and in 1902 it completely collapsed. On April 25, 1912, in honor of the feast of St. Mark, a new bell tower was consecrated, a copy of the destroyed one, but with a reinforced structure.
www.basilicasanmarco.it
The cathedral is open:
Mon-Sat
October-April 9.45-16.30
May - September 9.45 - 17.30
Sunday and holidays 14.00-16.00
Bell tower:
(entrance ticket 8 €)
October: 9.00 - 19.00
November – March/April (Easter): 9.30 - 15.45
March/April (Easter) - June: 9.00 - 19.00
July – September: 9.00 - 21.00
Piazza San Marco consists of three parts: the square itself, Piazzetta San Marco - the area from the Grand Canal to the bell tower and Piazzetta Leoncini - the area on the eastern side of the Basilica of San Marco near the Patriarchal Palace.
View of Sant'Giorgio Maggiore from San Marco.
San Marco. Venice.
Another famous attraction of Venice is Bridge of Sigh (Ponte dei Sospiri)- a covered passage connecting the Doge's Palace and the prison. The prisoners in custody walked across the bridge, took one last look at Venice and sighed. The bridge was built in 1602 according to the design of Antonio Conti.
Many historical figures visited the walls of this prison, for example, Giacomo Casanova. By the way, he was the only one who managed to escape from the dungeons.
Let's take a look at his memoirs. “This prison is intended to hold state criminals and is located right in the attic of the Doge’s Palace. The roof of the palace is covered not with slate or brick, but with lead plates three square feet and one line thick: hence the name of the prison - Piombi, Lead. You can enter there only through the palace gates, or, as they led me, through the prison building, along a bridge called the Bridge of Sighs. There is no way up to Piombi except through the hall in which the State Inquisitors sit; The key to it is always with the secretary; the gatekeeper Piombi, as soon as he has served all the prisoners early in the morning, certainly returns it to the secretary.”
In Piazza San Marco there are two columns: the column of St. Mark and the column of St. Theodore of Amassia, the first Venetian patron, the building of the national library, which houses unique manuscripts, the city Correr Museum, the clock tower and the Florian cafe.
Cafe "Florian".
In 1720, the most famous cafe in Venice was the Café Florian in St. Mark's Square.
The first manager was Valentino Florian Francesconi. Then the cafe was called “Cafe Venice Triumphal”. After the fall of the Republic, Florian Francesconi changed the cafe to Florian.
The cafe became the cultural center of the city; at different times it was visited by Giacomo Casanova, Carlo Goldoni, Lord Byron, Goethe and others.
In 1858, the cafe was restored and decorated. Inside Café Floriana there is a warm atmosphere of luxury, with frescoes on the walls reminiscent of great figures of the past.
Not far from the square there is a gondola station, from where you can take a boat trip along the canals of Venice.
Bacino Orseolo. San Marco. Venice
These were all the most famous and visited attractions, which no tourist visiting Venice passes by.
But let’s take two steps to the side to open less popular ones, but no less interesting places. Let's pay attention to the palace, which faces the Grand Canal immediately on the Rialto Bridge.
In the photo it is visible on the right side - a white building.
Grand Canal. Venice
It now houses postal and telecommunications services, and in 1228 it opened a German goods warehouse to control commercial transactions on the Rialto Bridge.
There were at least three warehouses in Venice - German, Turkish (now it houses the Natural History Museum of Santa Croce) and Persian (has not survived to this day). These warehouses always faced the Grand Canal; foreign merchants lived on top and the customs office was located. All operations were carried out under the control of the Venetians - three masters called Vizdomini.
The German warehouse received not only goods from Germany, but also Austrian, Hungarian and other northern European countries. The palace has five floors, among which three floors are occupied by residential premises. In total, the palace had 200 rooms, which also opened onto panoramic loggias covered with arches. Some of them have survived to this day. It was not exclusively a warehouse, but rather a complex that included a hotel. After the fall of the Republic in 1797, all services were abolished and the palace came into state ownership. In 1870, the palace was occupied by the Post Office.
Several churches that may be of interest.
Church of San Moise.
Church of San Moise was founded in the 8th century, but over the following centuries it was constantly rebuilt.
In 1668, the construction of the Baroque façade, designed by Alessandro Tremignon, was completed. The work was financed by Vincenzo Fini, whose bust adorns main entrance. Inside the church there are sculptures and paintings from the 17th-18th centuries, including a masterpiece Tintoretto"Washing of the Feet" and Palma the Younger "The Last Supper".
Address: Campo San Moise
Open: Mon-Sat 9.30-12.30
Church of Santo Stefano
Church of Sant Stefano located near the Academy Bridge. It was erected in the 14th century; the temple is considered a magnificent example of Venetian Gothic architecture.
Works are stored in the church Tintoretto“The Last Supper”, “Washing of the Feet and Christ in the Garden of Jerusalem”, Paris Bordon “Christ the Baptist”, Bartolomeo Vivarini and the sculpture “Head of St. Sebastian” by Lombardo and the works of the 15th century students of the Lombard School. The ceiling is shaped like an inverted ship.
Address: Campo Santo Stefano
Open: Mon-Sat 10.00-17.00
Ticket: 2.5 euros
Church of Santa Maria del Giglio
It was founded in the 10th century, but the present building is the result of restoration of the second half XVII century.
The facade was designed by Giuseppe Sardi da Morcote and is considered one of the most original and impressive Baroque facades in Venice. It is decorated with a large monument to the Barbaro family, including statues of the five brothers and a relief map of the various places in which Antonio Barbaro served during the Venetian Republic.
In the aisle of Molin on the right side there are works Rubens"Madonna and Child" and "Saint Giovannino". Works are stored in the church Tintoretto"The Four Evangelists", Alessandro Vittoria, Sebastiano Ricci, Palma the Younger.
Address: Campo Santa Maria del Giglio
Open: Mon-Sat 10.00-17.00
Ticket: 2.5 euros
Church of San Vidal was founded in 1084 Modern building dates back to the 17th century. , the façade was remodeled in 1700 by the architect Andrea Tirali.
The church hosts music concerts and art exhibitions. (www.interpretiveneziani.com)
In the square in front of the Church of San Gallo you can see one of the many Venetian wells. In a city surrounded by salt water, wells played a key role. In past centuries, their number reached 6 thousand pieces. Sources from fresh water located on the coasts, they also collected rainwater, then filtration was carried out using sand. Venice had an almost perfect well system built. A community of workers was created to serve them, and the skills were passed on from father to son.
The magnificent Contarini del Bovolo staircase in the shape of a spiral leads up, from where a panorama of Venice opens up.
Grassi Palace, located on the Grand Canal, is one of the most magnificent palaces in Venice, built in 1749 by the architect Giorgio Massari. It was the last palace built before the fall of the Republic. Nowadays exhibitions are held here.
The area of San Marco also includes the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where the Church of St. George (San Giorgio Maggiore). The view of the island and the temple opens from San Marco Square.
The first basilica dedicated to St. George was erected in the 8th century. In 982, Doge Tribuno Memo financially supported the founding of a Benedictine monastery, which was founded by Giovanni Morosini.
The church acquired its modern appearance thanks to Andrea Palladio in the 16th century. After Palladio's death, the temple was completed by his student Vincenzo Scamozzi.
The 75-meter-high bell tower was erected in 1791 by the architect Benedetto Buratti.
Several leading Venetian artists, including Tintoretto, worked on the decoration of the church. Tintoretto created seven works for this church, but only three of them survived: “The Last Supper,” “Collecting Manna from Heaven,” and “The Burial of Christ.”
"The Last Supper" (1592-94) – best job in this series. This work is the artist’s last appeal to one of his favorite themes. The painting amazes with its composition, in which earthly and divine details are skillfully intertwined.
“The Burial of Christ” - this work is interesting because Tintoretto depicted himself in the picture. This is his late self-portrait.
In 1808, the monastery and cathedral were closed by Napoleon. The buildings have been converted into barracks. In 1951, the monastery was acquired by Count Vittorio Cini and restored.
Open: May-September 9.30-12.30, 14.30-18.30
Oct-Apr 9.30-12.30, 14.30-16.30
Entrance to the church is free, climbing to the bell tower costs 3 euros.
Academy Bridge (Ponte dell'Accademia) is one of three bridges spanning the Grand Canal. It connects San Marco with the area
