279. St Mark's Square

What is St Mark's Square?

It's the 'drawing room of Europe' according to Napoleon - it's a large square in the centre of Venice containing St Mark's Church, the Doge's Palace, and the Clock Tower.

What's St Mark's Square like?

It was an unexpectedly restful place for me - it's the centre of Venice and packed with tourists, but you can sit and have a very expensive coffee and soak up the atmosphere.  


Where is St Mark's Square?

Venice, Italy

When did we go?

October 2010

How did we get there?

We went for one night for Pete's birthday - we flew very early from London and returned the following evening. We got a traghetto public ferry from the airport on the way there, but on the way back we got our own taxi boat - it was expensive but great.

Worth noting: 

The chances of you not being ripped off at some point in Venice are very slim, and almost non-existent in St Mark's Square - we decided to go with it and had extortionate drinks in Harry's Bar just off the square, as well as a dinner that cost way over the odds. But it was still a great trip.

Where was St Mark's Square in the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

26. It had dropped 253 places.

Does it deserve its lower place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500?

No way. It should be much higher.