THE SAN MARCO AREA

The Canal Grande, the Grand Canal, also called the “Canalazzo“, is the most important waterway in Venice. About 3800 meters long, it splits the city into two sides.

The city then is divided into six areas called sestieri: at its right of the Grand Canal lies Cannaregio, San Marco—location of Testa d’Oro— and Castello; whereas at its left lies San Polo, Dorsoduro, and Santa Croce.

Did you know that the six fingers or flanges of the ferro on the bow of a gondola represent the six sestieri?

Historicly, San Marco has been the political and administrative centre of the Venetian Republic, la Serenissima, for more than thousand years.

There are few in the world who don’t know Saint Mark Square. Known simply as 'the Piazza'—as no other public space in Venice is honoured with the title 'piazza'— Saint’Marks Square an exhibition of rare and unique beauty. The beauty of Piazza San Marco is largely due to the elegant symmetry and harmony of its three sides, enlivened by the burst of the basilica's over-the-top architecture. The north and south sides of Piazza di San Marco are bordered by the Procuratie. Today, the buildings house the Museo Civico Correr, Museo del Risorgimento, and the Museo Archeologico.

The Saint Mark’s Church is a 4,240 square meters Basilica built in the XI Century covered in ethereal and luminous gold mosaics inlaid marble floors, the gold reliquaries and many icons. Also there is the magnificent golden Byzantine retable known as the Pala d'Oro.

Then there is the Palazzo Ducale, The Dogi Palace, which represent the symbol and the heart of the political and administrative life of the Venetian Republic millenary history. Highlights are the Sala del Maggior Consiglio, Sansovino's golden stairway, and the many paintings by the greatest artists including Bellini, Carpaccio, Veronese, and Titian. Connected to the Palace is the Bridge of Sighs, a small covered bridge which once led to the Venetian prison.

Not to forget is the Campanile di San Marco, St. Mark’ s Bell Tower, nicknamed “El Paron de Casa,” originally built between 888 and 912. At almost 99m (325ft), it is the city’s tallest building, and so offers a panoramic views over the city. Lastly, the square hosts the Torre dell’Orologio built between 1496 and 1499 by Mauro Codussi with the two bronze Mori (Moors) on the terrace who strike the bell to mark the hours; and the Biblioteca Marciana is one of the biggest and most important library in Italy with its 900 thousand collections

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THE SAN MARCO AREA