Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco, Venice

The Piazza - the only urban space big enough to be called a piazza in Venice - is dominated by the Basilica of San Marco and the Doge's Palace , and by the Basilica's campanile (lit. "bell tower") which stands apart from it. The South-East corner by the campanile is open to the lagoon; the rest is surrounded by historic buildings. The square boasts two old, famous and expensive coffee houses, Gran Caffè Quadri and Caffè Florian. It is extremely popular with tourists, photographers and pigeons.