I never planned to visit Venice. I never felt a pull towards the city like some people do. I thought it would be overcrowded and too touristy. However, as with everything there is peacefulness and quietness just around the corner. This particular post is not about that. This post is about San Marco Square, or Pizza San Marco as the Italians call it. It’s about the hustle and bustle of the main touristic sights, and I will tell my story through photos.
Don’t worry, I did not activate my over-the-top Insta game with loads of outfit changes.
San Marco Square
San Marco Square is a huge and sprawling square. However, it’s busy at almost all times of the day. There are some quiet moments, like in the early morning.
I had my most expensive coffee on the square. Caffè Florian was established in Venice in 1720. It is the oldest Café in the world situated under the arches of the Procuratie Nuove in Saint Mark Square. My cup of coffee was 16 euros. Was it worth it, nope. Was it nice, sure. I’m all about the experiences and I really felt like I wanted to experience this.
It’s fun to just wander around the square, to take in all the madness. All the boats, all the sellers, all the tourists, but also all the beauty of this city. Other than that, there are two sights that I thought were worth visiting which I will mention below.
Saint Mark’s Basilica
Sain Mark’s Basilica is the most famous sight on San Marco Square and rightly so. There’s usually a queue in front of the entrance that encompasses the length of the square, but it’s worth looking inside. You could also book tickets online to avoid the queue altogether. If you don’t book the tickets beforehand, the queue will be long, and the visit inside will take you around ten minutes.
It’s a church, so clothes should be appropriate for this place of worship. Also, there’s a lot to do about luggage. You can’t enter the basilica with it. I’ve seen people queue for a long time only to be refused entry because of the backpack which can only be deposited in Ateneo San Basso, which is a separate street. I tried to deposit my handbag there, but that was too small so I headed back to the queue with my bag and hopes I wouldn’t be refused entry. My small bag was OK, but it’s worth to always check in the side alley before queueing.
Doge’s Palace
The Doge’s Palace is a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, like the Basilica it’s one of the main landmarks of the city. Entrance to the palace is 25 euro. I walked back and forth a couple of times because I couldn’t decide if I wanted to visit it. I’ve seen quite a few palaces, like in St. Petersburg and in Mysore, but when in Rome, right?
I like visiting these kind of places by myself, so that I can take a lot of time photographing everything I see. That’s how I make it enjoyable for myself.
Conclusion
I wouldn’t tell you not to visit San Marco Square when you visit Venice. The square is beautiful and there’s so much to see. I wouldn’t advise you to base your trip and how you experience Venice around this square though. It’s busy, it’s touristic and Venice has so many nicer spots which I will tell you about in my next post!
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