Venice, St. Mark's Square

Venice is dotted with many impressive squares that suddenly appear as we wander the narrow lanes and walkways. The largest of these is the Piazza San Marco, bordered on three sides by the Palazzo (Palace) dei Procuratori, (15th-16th century). The eastern end of the Piazza is capped by Saint Mark’s Basilica, built in the 1000s, rebuilt and renovated a variety of times since.

It’s worth the wait in line to ride the elevator to the top of the 325-foot-high Campanile (windows faintly seen, the tower expends above the top of the photo), in front of St. Mark’s. Some of our favorite photographs have been taken from the top of the Campanile with its exceptional views of the Venice roof tops, the nearby islands, St. Mark’s Square with columns and nearby buildings, and especially the view down onto the five-domed rooftop of St. Mark’s.

To the left of St. Mark’s, the Torre dell’Orologio e Procuratie, is a clock tower built in the late 1400s. Two bronze statues of Mori (Moors) giants have been striking the hour with sledge hammers, for 500 years.

To the right, next door to St. Mark’s (hidden behind the Campanile), is the Doge’s Palace. Just beyond the palace the famous 16th-century Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs), connects the palace to the state prison.