About This Location
Piazza San Marco is Venice’s main public square - and famously the only one in the city called a “piazza.” For centuries it has been the stage for ceremonies, announcements, celebrations, and everyday meet-ups, with the Basilica di San Marco at one end and long arcaded buildings framing the sides. The square grew over time from an earlier open space, taking on much of its recognizable shape by the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. The long buildings along the edges are the Procuratie, once linked to the offices and residences of the powerful Procurators of Saint Mark. Their arcades still guide foot traffic today, and they help the square feel like an outdoor room. Look toward the skyline for the Campanile di San Marco. The tower collapsed on 14 July 1902, and the replacement was completed in 1912, rebuilt “as it was, where it was” - a phrase Venetians still quote with pride. At the opposite end stands the Torre dell’Orologio, the clock tower that marks the entrance to the Mercerie routes toward Rialto. It was designed as a public symbol of timekeeping and civic order, right at the point where Venice’s politics and commerce meet. This place also has a famous nickname. The phrase “the drawing room of Europe” is often attributed to Napoleon, and even if the exact wording varies, the idea fits - this is where Venice puts its most impressive face on display.