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Piazza San Marco, Venice

4.4
#1 of 198 in Historic Sites in Venice
Historic Walking Area Landmark Must See
Venice's principal public space, Piazza San Marco has served as the city's social, religious, and political center for centuries. In fact, Napoleon called the square "the drawing room of Europe." It's the largest square in the city and the only one given the designation of "piazza" (the others are all called "campi"). Originally constructed in the ninth century as a small public space dotted with trees, the square was substantially enlarged in the 12th century and was paved with bricks in the 13th. Several major architectural sites surround the area. The most notable is an imposing church dedicated to St. Mark. Don't feed the pigeons--city law forbids feeding the birds in the square. To visit Piazza San Marco on your trip to Venice, use our Venice trip planner .
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Tours to Piazza San Marco
Best of Venice Tour with St Mark’s Basilica and Grand Canal Boat tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $75
4.5
3685 reviews
Duration: 3 hours
Buy tours from $75
Murano, Burano and Torcello Half-Day Sightseeing Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $22
3.5
4750 reviews
Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes
Buy tours from $22
Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $50
4.0
2885 reviews
Duration: 129 to 147 minutes
Buy tours from $50
Piazza San Marco Reviews
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5
36,108 reviews
TripAdvisor
  • By Seregaeto
    This isn't the first time I've been in this square. When I first saw her, I had a dream to bring my family here. And now I was not the only one who was able to admire the beauty of this square!
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  • By SirArthur11
    I've been there so many times in my life but this time I ran it out participating in the marathon and it was really an incredible emotion with a lot of people!
    View original
  • By Brian C
    Imagine a square or piazza, now put thousands of tourists inside it and some nice shops on its edges. You have now experienced this square.  more »
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Plans to Piazza San Marco by other users

20 days in Western Europe BY A USER FROM KUWAIT May, popular sights PREFERENCES: May ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 13 days in Italy BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES March, popular sights PREFERENCES: March ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 22 days in Italy BY A USER FROM SOUTH AFRICA December, popular sights PREFERENCES: December ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 15 days in Europe BY A USER FROM INDIA March, popular sights PREFERENCES: March ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 3 days in Venice BY A USER FROM BELGIUM December, popular sights PREFERENCES: December ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 9 days in Italy BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES March, popular sights PREFERENCES: March ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 20 days in Europe BY A USER FROM INDIA September, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife, popular sights PREFERENCES: September, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 7 days in Italy BY A USER FROM ISRAEL December, teens, shopping, popular sights PREFERENCES: December, teens, shopping ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 19 days in Italy BY A USER FROM GERMANY February, popular sights PREFERENCES: February ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 9 days in Europe BY A USER FROM SAUDI ARABIA December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, wildlife, popular sights PREFERENCES: December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 18 days in Italy BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA May, popular sights PREFERENCES: May ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 11 days in Italy BY A USER FROM THAILAND April, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: April, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium
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