St. Marks Square or Piazza San Marco - is a grand square surrounded by fancy historical buildings and sights including: St. Marks Basilica, the Dodge's Palace, the Campanile bell tower and the Correr Museum. It is the only square in Venice to merit the title "piazza." Nearly two football fields in length, it is surrounded by offices of the republic. With the church to your back, the "old offices" -16th century Renaissance are on the right and "new offices" - of the 17th century High Renaissance on your left.
St. Mark's Square
The Clock Tower, built during the Renaissance in 1496, marks the entry to the main shopping drag called the Mercerie, which connects St. Marks Square with the Rialto bridge. St. Marks Basilica was built in the 11th century to replace an earlier church, this basilica distinctly Eastern-style architecture underlines Venice's connection with Byzantium - its decorated with "booty" from returning sea captains, a Venetian trophy chest. The interior of the Basilica glows with gold mosaics and colored marble.
Dodge's Palace - the seat of the Venetian government and home of its ruling duke, or dodge, this was the most powerful half-acre in Europe for 400years. The Dodge's Palace was built to show off the power and wealth the Venetians had established. The dodge lived with his family on the first floor near the halls of power. Walking through Dodge's palace is a one way tour through the public rooms of the top floor finishing with the Bridge of Sighs and the prison. The Hall of the Grand Council, 175ft by 80ft, with a capacity of 2,600 is it where the nobility met to elect the senate and dodge and to date is still the largest room in Europe!
Dodge's Palace
The Flood - the question everyone wants to know, is Venice sinking? Unfortunately Venice has been battling rising water levels for centuries. Venice now floods about 100 times a year! Usually from October until late winter - a phenomenon called the acqua alta. Venice is sinking and the water is rising, a lethal combination for the city. The acqua alta happens when a high tide combines with strong sircco winds and a storm. We able to experience the acqua alta, after watching all the stores prepare the night before and the news of the flood - we were expecting to wake up to this massive flood! In reality it was a little of a disappointment until we walked to St. Marks Square where it was flooded! even had elevated sidewalks for people to walk on!
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