Vacations To Cabo San Lucas

If there’s one thing Europe has an abundance of, it’s ordinary public squares. But few of them compare to Piazza San Marco. You could spend an entire vacation taking in all the wonderful sites St. Mark’s has to offer. There are a dozen things to see but the Basilica di San Marco is one of the most fascinating.

Just the honor of standing in the ancient square is enough to attract many visitors. The come from all over the world to take in the views of the Basilica, the Campanile, the Doge’s Palace and much more. The great thing is that there is no traffic or noise to disturb them, which is unlike other public squares all over Europe.

The piazza started as a mere open space outside the now-replaced church some time in the 9th century. It was enlarged and reshaped into its now three-sided area by the latter half of the 12th century. It then rapidly became the place where the rich, poor, grand and humble alike met and mingled. The square housed all of the very important offices of the Republic and it was also where all the major festivals were held.

Doge’s Palace is one of the more delightful sights to be seen. The palace, called the Palazzo Ducale di Venzia, was the palace of the Doge of Venice, as the name suggests. The Doge was the leader of the government. The palace was constructed in the 14th century and it incorporated many innovative features. Some of these include a series of arches on the bottom story, along with heavier sections above it. It’s now a museum where there are paintings by Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and other famous artists of that time.

Nearby is the Bridge of Sighs, which led to a 1600-era prison. It gained its present name from the poet Lord Byron in the 19th century. The thought was that prisoners would utter a sigh as they were led into the Doge’s prison after seeing the loveliness of Venice for the last time. Also, as legend has it, two lovers who kiss under the bridge in a gondola at sunset will enjoy love everlasting.

The Campanile is another sight that’s a must see in the square. This is the bell tower of St. Mark’s. The current Campanile di San Marco was finished in 1912. It was designed as a replica of a structure that stood earlier but collapsed ten years prior. That structure had stood for almost 500 years. The structure acted as both a bell tower for the cathedral as well as a military watchtower from the 10th century. The bell tower alone makes a visit to the square worth your while. You’ll love how the roof catches the Venice summer sun and cascades it across the entire square.

Another outstanding sight in Piazza San Marco is the Moors’ Clock Tower, or the Torre dell’Orologio. The tower was completed in 1499 and does much more than just offer the time for the local residents. It also adds immense beauty to the area. It contains five bays and two enormous statues made of bronze and still remains one of Venice’s most magnificent public works. The clock possesses a series of concentric dials that tells the time, tells the sign of the zodiac and also indicates the placement of the sun and the moon.

Visitors who come to see all that there is to see in the square are also thankful for the Caf Florian, which is very near the square. The coffee they’ve been serving visitors and locals alike since 1720 provides just the energy you need to see all that St. Mark’s has to offer.