St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) is the place to see when in Venice. One of the most visited sites on this planet around 25 million tourists come here every year. It is Venice’s only square with the title of “piazza” - the rest are called “campo.” It has always been the market as well as the center of civic and religious life in Venice. Famously referred to as “Drawing room of Europe” it is always bustling with tourists even at mid night. Surprisingly few venture beyond the famous landmarks of St Mark Basilica and the Doge’s palace. We give you insider tip of the square. In 24 hours you will be able to enjoy and see attractions around the square without a tour guide and come back with memorable clicks.
Enter the square taking the narrow shopping street of Merceria from Rialto Bridge. You will pass under the arch at the base of the clock tower.
Torre dell’ Orologio (Clock Tower)
The clock tower was designed and built between 1496 and 1499 by Mauro Codussi. Built in style of Venetian Renaissance architecture, the mosaic of gold stars glittering against a blue background and the Lion of St. Mark were added in 1755 by Giorgio Massari. Above the clock’s face is a gilded Madonna. In many ways it is perhaps world’s first digital clock. In the 1979 movie Moonraker James Bond throws the villain through the glass face of this clock!!
The grand piazza, unlike most in Europe, is shaped not in the form of a square but rather as an irregular trapezoid, narrowing substantially at one end. On the two sides are the Procuratie Nuove and Procuratie Vecchie which once housed offices of the chief officials of the Venetian republic. On the far end is Ala Napoleonica which once housed the Royal palace.
Procuratie Nuove
Procuratie Vecchie
Step into the square and spend some time admiring these two fine examples of Venetian Early Renaissance architecture
The original twelfth-century building of Procuratie Vecchie was only one storied and housed the offices of Procuratori di San Marco, high-ranking state officials. A plaque here commemorates the grand public reception Giuseppe Garibaldi received here on Feb23, 1876.
By 1582, when Procuratie Vecchie could not accommodate more offices, Procuratie Nuove was built on the opposite side of the Piazza. It was designed to harmonize with Procuratie Vecchie. Between 1805 and 1814, Napoleon, who had proclaimed himself King of Italy, lived in the Procuratie Nuove whenever he visited Venice.
Ala Napoleonica
It was Napoleon who ordered the construction of the third building that finishes off the end of the piazza, now known as the Ala Napoleonica. Built between 1807-1830 it was intended as the public residence of the new sovereigns. Within the central portico is a monumental staircase that now leads up to the Correr Museum.
Before going to the Correr museum it is time for tea and early breakfast at Café Florian
Café Florian
World’s oldest coffee house, Café Florian opened with two simply furnished rooms on 29 December 1720 as “Alla Venezia Trionfante” (Venice the Triumphant), but soon became known as Caffè Florian, after its original owner Floriano Francesconi. The Breakfast is served from 9am till 11am. Have Triangolo di Verdure which is cereal bread sandwich with grilled eggplant, zucchini and peppers, Club sandwich and Ricotta cheese cake with Cioccolata Cassanova(hot chocolate with mint cream and Chocolate shavings). Tea lovers can try their specialty tea- Florian blooming tea which is spring tea buds tied by hand in the shape of pearls, balls and towers which once infused open in a perfect bouquet .
After a quick breakfast head towards Ala Napoleonica which is the wing at far end of the piazza.
The Royal Palace Dining Room
Under Austrian rule, the palace was used by the Hapsburg court during their frequent visits to Venice and, from 1866; it was to be the Venetian residence of the kings of Italy. The Royal palace is part of the Correr museum. You can buy the San Marco pack which allows you access to all the three museums which you will now see as well as the Doge’s palace you will visit later
Correr Museum
Originating with the collection that Teodoro Correr bequeathed to the city in 1830, the museum comprises various different sections that offer fascinating insights into the art and history of Venice. Since 1922 it has been housed in the Napoleonic Wing in St. Mark’s Square and in part of the Procuratie Nuove, which Vincenzo Scamozzi designed in the late sixteenth century as the seat of the most important Magistrature of the Venetian Republic.
From here we proceed further to Biblioteca Marciana and National Archaeological Museum
Biblioteca Marciana
The Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Marciana Built between 1537 and 1560 to designs by Jacopo Sansovino, the Library was commissioned by the Procuratori di San Marco to provide a fitting setting for the Greek and Latin codices donated to the Republic of Venice in 1468 by Cardinal Bessarion.
National Archaeological Museum
The history of the Museum is closely bound up with the site it occupies, a series of rooms on the first floor of the Procuratie Nuove, between the Corer Museum and the Sansovino Library. In fact, the core of the archaeological collection dates from 1523, when Cardinal Domenico Grimani bequeathed to the Republic of Venice his Roman and Classical statues.
As you walk back towards the exit spend some time at the museum café. It offers excellent view of the Piazza in relatively peace and tranquility.
We now move towards the Basilica facing us. The queue is generally long during this part of the day. Hence we will skip it for the moment and turn right towards the Bell tower
Loggetta and Bell-Tower (Campanile di San Marco)
The Loggetta was designed by Jacopo Sansovino in 1537-1549 and was used as a lobby by patricians waiting to go into a meeting of the Great Council in the Doges Palace and by guards when the Great Council was sitting. A work of both sculpture and architecture, it comprises a three-arch arcade richly decorated with works in marble and bronze.
Galileo Galilei demonstrated his telescope to the Doge of Venice Antonio Priuli on August 21, 1609 from the Campanile. There is a plaque commemorating this event at the top.
Piazzetta di San Marco
The Piazzetta di San Marco is the adjoining open space connecting Piazza San Marco to the lagoon. The Piazzetta lies between the Doge’s Palace on the east and Jacopo Sansovino’s Library on the west. At the end of Piazzetta is the Molo, the quay facing the lagoon. Near the Molo is the Zecca or the mint, now part of the Biblioteca Marciana.
We continue exploring St Mark Square in the Second Part
