There are as many pigeons as tourists in Piazza San Marco, maybe even more. We don't know what attracts them, maybe it's the beauty of The Basilica or the Campanile. Maybe it's the Doge's Palace or the two columns that pay homage to two of Venice's patrons – St. Mark and St. Teodoro of Amasea. Whatever draws you here, it's worthy to be #59 on our list.
There are thousands of squares around the world, so why did St. Mark's Square make it as an
AbsoluteVisit? History, beauty, and character immediately come to mind and are exactly what
makes me want to go back to this incredible square for a third time.
The first thing that I noticed about the square is its size. As one of the main pedestrian ports
for navigating your way through Venice's labyrinth of canals and alley ways, there are naturally
thousands of people in and around the square at any given time. With size, people and its
position to the water, the square comes to life and is full of character as it is constantly bustling with music, artists, cafes, and the constant capturing of photos.
And what is everyone taking photos of? They are snapping away at the magnificent and historic beauty that surrounds this square. With The Grand Canal, St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, and
a combination of charming cafes and shops as the square's borders, you are truly engulfed in an
Italian paradise. Soak up this exciting experience!
Quick Facts & History
St. Marks Square, resting site of the famous St. Marks Basilica and Doges Palace in Venice, Italy started out as a small tree-lined square and has now grown into the largest square in the city.
The layout of the paving stones in the square has been changed several times, with the final design resulting in a complex pattern that marks the locations where merchants are allowed to set up their stalls and shops.
St. Marks Square is the only square in the Venice given the designation 'Piazza'; all others are too small and are therefore known as 'campi'.
Pigeons are a big problem in St. Marks Square; so much so that the city recently passed a law that banned people from feeding the birds in efforts to preserve the various mosaics and buildings around the piazza that have been damaged by the pigeons presence.
