Venice: the “Blue Danube” Live from Piazza San Marco

Venice Cafe Florian

The Café Florian Quintet plays Strauss's famous Waltz in St Mark's Square, Venice After a vigorous rendition of Ravel's "Bolero", the small, five-piece orchestra on the stage outside the famous Café"Florian" in Piazza San Marco strike up the opening bars of Strauss's "Blue Danube" waltz, much to the delight of the still sizeable audience sitting at the tables on the square. It's getting on for midnight here in St. Mark's Square, but the warm air has brought out many tourists … [Read more...]

Venice in Acqua Alta: Live From Piazza San Marco

Venice Acqua Alta

High Water at High Noon: Keep Your Balance in St. Mark's Square - or Go for a Paddle! "Acqua Alta" is Italian for "High Water", and when a big tide comes into Venice's lagoon, that's exactly what you get in Piazza San Marco and many pedestrian streets. Fortunately, it usually only happens from autumn to spring, and the city fathers set up a network of gangways (wide wood planks on iron supports) to help people get around, but in busy areas this can make for some exciting balancing … [Read more...]

How to get to St. Mark’s Square: Venice Guide

Piazza San Marco

How to get to St. Mark's Square from just about everywhere in Venice Let's face it, at some stage every visitor to Venice wants to get to Piazza San Marco, St. Mark's Square, and the truth is that there are little signposts to it from just about everywhere. Unfortunately, Venetian street directions can leave something to be desired, especially if you're just visiting. In a couple of places you can find signs to San Marco facing in diametrically opposite directions! No doubt you can … [Read more...]

Places to see in San Marco

St Mark's Basilica, Venice

What to See in Venice:  San Marco Sights and Attractions: As the centre of politics and the judiciary, San Marco is where the powerhouses of Venice are located. The Palazzo Ducale and Basilica di San Marco are on Piazza San Marcoand within the square itself are the most important and recognizable symbols of Venice. The attractions below are those that are on or near Piazza San Marco and the other San Marco attractions, off the square, are on the next page. Saint Mark's Basilica The … [Read more...]