Question 1

What is Piazza San Marco famous for?

Accepted Answer

Piazza San Marco is Venice's main public square and contains its most famous architecture, museums, and buildings including St Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, Archeological Museum, and so on. Once Napoleon mentioned Piazza San Marco as “the world's most beautiful drawing room”. The excellent architecture of the square, presence of religious, social, and cultural centers make the piazza attractive to the visitors throughout the world.

Question 2

Why was Piazza San Marco built?

Accepted Answer

Piazza San Marco was built in the ninth century as a small square dotted with trees. The square was constructed facing towards the original St. Mark's Basilica. In the Year 1174, the piazza was enlarged after the canal and an adjacent dock were filled in. The square became tiled with bricks in 1267 in a herringbone pattern. In the year 1735, the bricks of the pavement were exchanged with natural stone to make them strong and beautiful and laid in a more complicated pattern according to a design devised by architect Andrea Tirali.

Question 3

When was Piazza San Marco built?

Accepted Answer

The construction of Piazza San Marco was started in 800 and over time it was enlarged and reconstructed by different rulers. IT was constructed in the 9th century in front of Saint Mark's Basilica and the adjacent Doge's Palace. In the 12th century, the square was enlarged after a canal and dock were filled in.

Question 4

Is St Mark's Basilica free to enter?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Entrance to the Basilica is free, but visitors should expect to pay entrance fees during holidays or to special parts of the basilica complex, such as the Saint Mark's museum, the Bell Tower, Pala d'Oro, and the Treasury.

Question 5

Can you take photos inside St Mark's Basilica?

Accepted Answer

No, photography is not allowed inside St Mark's Basilica.

Question 6

How long did it take to build St Mark's Basilica?

Accepted Answer

First time the Basilica was constructed in 928 and later in 976, the first construction was burned during the revolt against the Doge Pietro Candiano IV. The successor of Doge Pietro Candiano IV, Doge Domenico Contarini reconstructed the Basilica and the restoration was completed in 1071. In this new construction, the influence of Greek architecture is prominent and the five domes of the construction is the evidence of that.