It is no accident that St. Mark's Square in Venice (Italy) is considered one of the most famous landmarks of the city. The scheme of St. Mark's Square in Venice can be represented in two parts: Piazzetta - the territory from the bell tower to the Grand Canal, and Piazza - the square itself.
In the 9th century, near the St. Mark's Cathedral, a small space was formed, which subsequently expanded to the size of the current square. To date, St. Mark's Square is the political, social and religious center of Venice. It is here that all the main attractions of Venice are located.
Cathedral of San Marco in Venice
In the eastern part of the Piazza Piazza, one of the most beautiful buildings in Venice - the church or the Basilica of San Marco - rises. It was built in the image of the Church of Constantinople in the form of a Greek cross. The huge arches of the western facade of this cathedral, the marble decoration, the carved figures at the central entrance symbolize the power and pride of Venice. The architecture of the cathedral of St. Mark united styles of different eras, as it was built and rebuilt during four centuries. The predominantly Byzantine style. The beautiful interior of the basilica is represented by iconostases, various statues of the apostles, an amazing Byzantine mosaic. Until the XIX century, the cathedral was the court chapel of the nearby Doge's Palace.
Today, the Cathedral of San Marco is the center of Christian pilgrimage, where everyday worship services are held. Here are stored the relics of St. Mark, the martyr Isidor, many relics taken during the campaigns to Constantinople.
The Doges Palace
The palace of the Byzantine rulers-doges is located to the right of the Cathedral of San Marco. It is executed in the Gothic style. The elegant building of the palace is decorated with elegant columns on the first and second tiers. In addition to the Doges, the main bodies of Byzantine power were located in the palace: the court, the police, the senate.
Belfry of San Marco in Venice
Not far from the church is the highest building of the city - the bell tower of San Marco, 98.5 m high. At different times, the bell tower, or Campanilla, as it is also called, served as a beacon for ships, and a watchtower. At the base of the bell tower of San Marco, there is a small lodgetta, which served to house the guards of the Doge's Palace.
Various natural cataclysms so negatively influenced the bell tower, that at the beginning of the XX century it collapsed. However, the authorities of Venice have made every effort to restore this monument of architecture, and today the bell tower appears in front of us in the same beauty as before.
In the northern part of the square there is the building of the Old Procurations, in the southern part of it - the premises of the New Procurations. On their lower floors today are open several cafes, among which the famous "Florian".
Library of San Marco in Venice
There, on the Piazza San Marco, is another pride of Venice - the largest national library of San Marco. This building was built in the middle of the XVI century. Amazing architecture reflects the features of the Renaissance. The solid two-tiered facade of the library, adorned with bizarre arcades, overlooks a small part of the square - Piazzetta.
Today, the library holds more than 13,000 manuscripts, more than 24,000 old books and about 2,800 books of first-printed books. The walls are decorated with numerous paintings.
In the northern part of St. Mark's Square is an architectural monument of the early Renaissance - the clock tower, which was built in the late XV century. It is clearly visible from the sea and always testified of the glory and richness of Venice.
The pavement in the Piazza San Marco in Venice until the XVIII century was laid out of red bricks in a pattern in herringbone. After the restoration, the pavement was laid out with a single-colored gray tile without a pattern.
Every visitor to St. Mark's Square considers it his duty to feed numerous pigeons - the visiting card of the main square of Venice.