St. Mark's Square & Basilica

Piazza San Marco / Basilica di San Marco

Often called 'the most beautiful living room in Europe,' St. Mark's Square is the heart of Venice, framed by a Byzantine basilica with golden mosaics, a bell tower, and the Doge's Palace. It was the stage for a thousand years of Venetian Republic splendor.

St. Mark's Square is about 175 meters long and is enclosed on three sides by the arcades of the administrative buildings. At its east end stands St. Mark's Basilica. First built in 828 to house the relics of St. Mark, smuggled out of Alexandria, the present building was reconstructed between 1063 and 1094. It features five domes, four gilded bronze horses on the facade (the originals are in the museum inside the basilica and came from Constantinople), and about 8,000 square meters of golden mosaics inside. It is considered the pinnacle of Byzantine art in the West.

Highlights include the Pala d'Oro golden altarpiece behind the high altar, set with 2,000 gemstones (admission 5 euros); the St. Mark's Museum and balcony (7 euros, with views over the square and a close look at the original bronze horses); and the floor mosaics. Basilica admission is 3 euros (since 2023), and you can reserve a specific time slot online (+3 euros) to skip the queue. Opening hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 2:00 to 5:15 p.m. on Sundays.

Other highlights on the square include the 98.6-meter Campanile (bell tower), which you can ride up by elevator for 12 euros for views over the city and the lagoon; the Clock Tower opposite the bell tower, where the Moors strike the bell; and Caffè Florian, opened in 1720 (playing live music on outdoor seating adds a 6-euro fee).

Tips: Between 7 and 8 a.m., the square is nearly empty, making it the best time for photos. Visit the basilica afterward, when the queues build up. In the evening, watch the sunset over the lagoon from between the two columns at the Piazzetta, one topped by the Lion of St. Mark and the other by St. Theodore. Getting there: water bus Line 1, San Marco stop.

Note: The basilica bans large bags (you can store them at the nearby Ateneo San Basso), requires covered shoulders and knees, and prohibits photography inside. Feeding pigeons, sitting on the steps, and picnicking on the square are all subject to fines. When water levels are high, temporary raised walkways are set up on the square.

St. Mark's Square & Basilica

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby