The Piazza (Square) of St Mark is the central point in Venice. It’s on the bank of the Grand Canal and features Venice’s most beautiful and impressive landmarks, from the Campanile (tower) with the winged lion (Venice’s official ‘mascot’) keeping watch to the fifteen-hundred-year-old Basilica and the Doge’s (King) magnificent Palace.

Ask what people remember about St Mark’s and one of the things will be ‘crowds’. The tourist throng in St Mark’s, especially in summer, is something to be reckoned with, especially if you’re not staying for long and have to make the most of your time. Here are a few tips that will make your visit to St Mark’s more enjoyable.

1. Visit St Mark’s in the early morning or late afternoon. You’ll be avoid being pushed and shoved in long lines of people waiting to enter into the buildings on the Square. If you give early enough you’ll catch the Square almost devoid of people, which in itself is a great experience, especially if you’re a photographer.

2. Before you visit the attractions on St Mark Square, you have to hand in any bags you’re carrying at a deposit point below the Clock Tower. You don’t want to fall into a queue at the Campanile only to find that out twenty minutes later.

3. Similar to any other tourist spot in the world, curios and food bought on St Mark’s Square will be much more expensive than those located five minutes’ walk from the Square.

4. An exception to the above tip is coffee at Florian’s, a historic cafe on the Square. IT was visited by many of the painters and writers that visited Venice through the years, and was once considered a hangout of the intellectuals and politicians of the city. Be prepared to pay a premium for the priviledge though…

5. Authorities are encouraging people not to feed the hundreds of pigeons that live on the Square. That’ll be hard to resist if you have children though. Small packets of bird food is on sale, making it even easier.

6. There’s a LOT to see on St Mark’s, and it’ll take you a full day to take everything there is to see in. The most visited ones are the Doge’s Palace, the Correr Museum, the Basilica and the Campanile. They’re all worth it, but can become a bit tiring, especially if you’re not that much into culture and art. If you stay long enough you can split your visit over two days.

7. There’s a famous legend about an ill-fatged Doge that landed at St Mark’s Square, and walk ashore between the two pillars only to meet his end some time later. Since then superstitious types consider it bad luck to walk inbetween the pillars. Just so you know.

You’re ambling along one of Venice’s numerous little alleyways one bright, sunny morning. You’re taking in the centuries-old ambience for which Venice is known worldwide: Red geraniums flowing brightly in window flower boxes, neighbours chatting amiably, and the ubiquitous Venice cat lazing on a sunny balcony.

Then you’re sgtopped in you tracks by a flood of water covering the alley from side to side, and lapping at the side doorways. Anxioiusly you enquire around whether Venice has sunk overnight. Will only the rooftops be sticking out by nightfall? You notice that passersby simply acknowledge your concerns with a knowing smile or a comforting laugh.

You also happen to notice that they all seem  to be well prepared for the flood, as most are wearing rather fasionable wellington boots. Also, most doorways have contraptions in front of them preventing water from seeping into hallways.

This flood occurrence is what Venetians refer to as ‘acqua alta’ and it’s a fairly common phenomenon with which everyday life in the city has to cope with. What is it caused by? Well, Venice is located in a large but extremely shallow lagoon, which is subject to sea tides. When the tide rises water sometimes spills over into the alleys and campos, particularly during winter, when high tides are more pronounced than during other times of the year. The overspill varies from a few centimetres to half-a-metre, depending on the place and season.

There are various ways in which Venice copes with acqua alta. Water boots of all shapes and colours are a common sight and you’ll be able to buy a pair at most shoe shops. In many areas, including the main tourist hub on St. Mark’s Square, you’ll notice long, moveable  running boards that people walk along in areas that are under water. And as mentioned, flood prone doorways are protected by metal plates that stop water from seeping in.

The flooding is hardly dangerous, and even times where it has caused serious damage has been few and far between. Most certainly, it’ll rather make yoiur time in Venice more interesting rather than posing any kind of concern. It’s one of the quirks that make traveling to unknown places interesting and unique.
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