Location: San Marco
Top Things to do in San Marco
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10 Architectural Buildings in San Marco That You Shouldn't Miss
With its gondolas, canals, amazing restaurants, and unforgettable romantic ambiance, Venice is definitely a city for one's bucket list. Waterfront palazzos, palaces, and churches make drifting down the Grand Canal feel like cruising through a painting. To really experience Venice you must go to the opera or to a classical music performance, nibble fresh pasta and pastries, and linger in the exhibit halls of an art gallery. Label lovers will drool over the high-end shopping in Piazza San Marco.
Restaurants in Venice
1. Palazzo Falier
2. Scala Contarini del Bovolo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,510 reviews
The tallest spiral staircase of Venice is a perfect synthesis of different architecture styles (Renaissance, Gothic and Venetian-Byzantine). It was commissioned by Pietro Contarini in late 1400 as a decorative element of the adjacent family's Palazzo. Even today there are several hypotheses about the authorship of the manufacturer. The monument can be considered a unique architectural jewel in the lagoon, the new Renaissance expression that was establishing in the city. The Scala is connected to the palace by three floors lodges. At the top there is the Belvedere with a wonderful view of Venice, from here you can see the domes and the Campanile di San Marco, the Basilica di Santi Giovanni e Paolo, and even the Teatro la Fenice.
Reviewed By JuneJaundoo - Brighton, United Kingdom
Well, this is a little bit off the beaten track, and well worth going to see. Once a private residence many years ago, it's now been restored and is open to the public. Its €7pp to climb the stairs and admire the view. This will become a main tourist stop in a few years. Its amazing to think it was once a private house, and that it's there tucked away down tiny streets, hidden from view, it makes you wonder just what lies behind some of the dull doors of Venice!
3. Torre dell'Orologio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,216 reviews
This 14th-century clock stands on the north side of St. Mark's Square,and is known by its large clock face displaying the hours of the day, phases of the moon and movement of the sun through the signs of the Zodiac.
Reviewed By massimoswitz - Opfikon, Switzerland
Beautiful clock tower in front of the basilica of San Marco that every hour you hear the Moors ringing the bells.
4. Palazzo Contarini Fasan - Casa di Desdemona
5. Basilica di San Marco
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28,574 reviews
Blending the architectural styles of East and West, Venice's magnificent basilica was consecrated in 832 AD as an ecclesiastical building to house the remains of St. Mark.
Reviewed By 627brendand
We visited this beautiful church and were blown away by the opulent gold mosaic artwork and beautiful sculptures and architecture. It was a personal goal to visit San Marco and the square so it was for us a dream come true. The disappointing thing was the general level of dishonesty around Venice by business people. To buy anything was a complete rip off, even a coffee and croissant was extortionate. You had to always check your change as we were deliberately short changes several times and my wife was also pick pocketed in Milan the very hour we arrived in Italy. So be careful with your money and I wouldn’t eat or buy any food in tourist areas. Also when we arrived at the train station in Venice the square was under about 12 inches of water. People were everywhere selling waterproof waders to put your feet in. 20 Euro later ...These promptly leaked and we were soaked anyway after 5 minutes of use. This was dishonesty on an industrial scale. Also no one told us that if you simply waited about an hour the tide would recede and you could walk around on dry ground. This basic information was simply not available to tourists. My advice would be, go for the beauty and amazing art and be very careful, as there is unfortunately a rip off culture everywhere.
6. Doge's Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26,297 reviews
A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the building and its sculptural decoration date from various periods. The interior, with works by artists such as Titian, Veronese, Tintoretto, A.Vittoria and Tiepolo, includes vast council chambers, superbly decorated residential apartments, and austere prison cells. Along the facades of the Palace run loggias that overlook St. Mark’s Square and the lagoon. The combined entrance ticket to the St. Mark’s Square Museums grants access to the Doge’s Palace, Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of Biblioteca Marciana.
Reviewed By I5778HMtrevors - Kidderminster, United Kingdom
As part of a tour through viator including Basillica. Doges Palace is superb with beautiful Paintings everywhere Did tour including dungeons so walked over Bridge of Sighs All amazing Suggest earliest Guided tour available to beat the crowds
7. Campanile di San Marco
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,064 reviews
Originally built as a lighthouse to assist navigation in the lagoon, visitors can be whisked by elevator to the top of St. Mark's Campanile or bell tower to savor incredible views of Venice, the lagoon and the Alps in the distance.
Reviewed By chicago90Phoenix
If you love priceless views including the multiple domed roof of St. Marks Church, this is the place to be. You will appreciate the beauty and how special and unique Venice is when you have this birds eye view perspective of this empire.
8. Sale Monumentali della Libreria Sansoviniana
9. Palazzo Fortuny (Pesaro degli Orfei)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 256 reviews
Situated in the Gothic palazzo Pesaro degli Orfei in Campo San Beneto; the building was transformed by Mariano Fortuny into his own photography, set-design, stagecraft, fabric-creation and painting atelier: the building still testify to all of these activities, with various art and tapestries collections. The museum also hosts temporary art exhibitions, all of which closely connected to the spirit of its founder. Now closed due to maintenance work. It will reopen on December 14th, with the exhibition FUTURUINES
Reviewed By SaraF742 - Denver, United States
The fabric and photographs, paintings, artifacts— oh my what a lots of wonderful real things to get close to without the crowds. In depth story about the family and the fabric designs. Peggy Guggenheim had a dress made in the tiny pleated art (something currently an inspiration for a Navajo Native American friend who is a fashion designer). I say a dress made in this style in a Fortuny store in the San Marco area, as viable a design as when originally conceived. Hard not to "feel the goods" in the museum, fingers simply ache to want to touch! The early photos and the art by the elder Fortuny were additional glimpses into areas we cannot otherwise now know.
10. Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 94 reviews
Reviewed By hilmill - Chicago, United States
Located just across the Academia bridge from the Guggenheim Museum, this Palazzo stages various exhibits throughout the year. Most recently, I saw a wonderful Dubuffet show that fit perfectly into the backdrop of this space. Aside from the art, it’s a beautiful palazzo in its own right. I highly recommend this show.
