St Mark's Square and Basilica

Piazza San Marco is the glittering heart of Venice, a grand square framed by elegant arcades and dominated by the Basilica of St Mark, a Byzantine wonder of five domes and golden mosaics raised over the relics of the evangelist. Beside it soars the great campanile, and the whole ensemble, with the lagoon at its edge, is the ceremonial centre of the UNESCO city.

The main sights

• St Mark's Basilica - the golden-mosaicked Byzantine church and its bronze horses.
• The campanile - the great bell tower, climbed for a view over the city and lagoon.
• The square and arcades - the grand piazza and its historic cafes.
• The Doge's Palace - the pink Gothic palace of the Venetian rulers alongside.

When to go

Spring and autumn for milder weather and fewer crowds; summer is hot and mobbed, winter atmospheric and quieter, though the square floods at high water. Early morning gives the square nearly empty.

Practical notes

It is one of the most crowded places in Italy, mobbed by day and by cruise crowds; early morning or evening is the only calm. The historic square cafes charge dearly for a coffee. In high water the square floods, so check the tide (acqua alta) forecasts.

Nearby

The Doge's Palace and the Rialto Bridge are nearby; the Grand Canal and the outer islands spread around.