Illustrated magazine Vladimir Dergacheva "Landscapes of Life

"He who has a heart on St. Mark's Square, does not have it at all."
Unknown traveler 19th century

The political and religious center of Venice is the Saint Mark's Square. The area includes the territory from the Grand Channel to the bell tower (Piazzette) and directly extensive area (Piazza). Here is the Cathedral of St. Mark (9-15th centuries), the bell tower (1514), the Doge Palace (14-15th century) and the National Library of San Marco (16th century).

Campanil (Bell Tower) Saint Brand Cathedral Up to 100 meters high was built in today's form in 1514, repeatedly rebuilt. In 1902, as a result of earthquake, a lightning and dilapidation, she collapsed, but was recreated in the same place in the same form by 1912. Here the most famous scientist in Europe, the Italian physicist, Astronomer Galileo Galilee, established his first telescope to observe heavenly bodies.

The bell tower served as a watchtower and a lighthouse for ships included in the lagoon. In the Middle Ages, a torture cell was in a solid brick mine of the tower. The ringing of five bells determined the rhythm of the life of the city and called on not only to serve in the temple. The largest bell arranged about the upcoming meeting of the Greater Council, and in the morning there were angry people. With the sound of another bell, members of the Big Council should have been hurrying to the Doge's Palace. The bell "Nona" celebrated noon, and the "Metz Terrta" reported on the meeting of the Senate. The smallest bell was notified of the upcoming execution.

From the top of the tower, with good weather, you can see the outstanding Alps.

On the Square (Piazza), there are old and new prosecution, intended for residential apartments of the Procurators San Marco. Between them, by order of the French emperor, a new wing was built (the ballroom Ala Napoleonic).


Photo from the book "Venice". Series "Golden Book". Venice, 2013.

Holiday Tower of St. Mark (15th century) is an architectural monument of early rebirth. At the top of the tower, two bronze man in sheep skins are beaten in the bell. The difference at their age (old and young) shows the flow fluidity.
Below on a blue background with gold stars depicted the main symbol of the Venetian Republic "Winged Lion" with an open book. The clock shows the seasons of the year, time, the moon phases and the movement of the sun from one constellation to another.

The monumental arch leads to the main (trading) Mercery Street and further to the commercial and financial center on the Grand Channel at the Rialto Bridge.

Gothic Palace of the Doge (1309 - 1424) was the residence of the head of the Venetian Republic. In the palace, the Great Council and Senate began, the Supreme Court. Here, the secret police fought with the enemies of the republic and the corrupt officials. They were effectively drowned in the lagoon or harassed often earlier than they carried out their insidious thoughts. During the celebrations, the mayor was the people who saved on the gondolas, with a balcony facing the Grand Channel. In the Palace, the Guards were located the Hall of the Big Council, the Cabinets of the Secret Office and the camera torture.

On the left in the picture the largest venice National Library of St. Mark. It has about 13 thousand manuscripts, over 28 thousand first-line and other ancient books of the 16th century.

On the square (Piazzette) rises columns of St. Mark.and Holy Theodore. In 1099, Venice for military assistance between Constantinople got the monolithic granite columns (possibly from Syria), which in about a century were installed on the main square. The place between the columns was used for special cases of fairness - for mortal executions. The convicts set aside to the clock tower so that they saw how the clock would beat off the last minutes of their lives. Locals and today prefer not to pass between the colon. Not all tourists know about it.

On the eastern column, the bronze statue of the "Winged Leo" was installed. Until today, disputes on the origin of the "Lion" from Persia, China, Byzantium, Assyria or Venice itself continues.

Napoleon Bonaparte, who put the last point in the existence of the thousand-year-old Venice republic, considered its sacred debt to remove the symbol of the power of the power of Venice and send the "Lion of St. Mark" to Paris, where it was installed in front of the disabled home. It seemed excessive for European leaders and by decision of the Vienna Congress "Lev" again went to Venice, but on the way the sculpture crashed. Already on the spot it was bonded and installed. In 1985, a capital restoration of "Lion" was carried out. The age of sculpture weighing 2.8 tons was defined in 2500 years. This gave reason to assume that the sculpture was cast in the 5th century BC in the Assyrian city of Tars. Where in 11 or 12 centuries. Crusaders ("The Liberation Liberations of the Lord") delivered this trophy to Venice.

The Western Column has a copy of the sculpture of Holy Theodore (The original is stored in the Palace of the Doings). Before the construction of the Cathedral of St. Mark, where the relics of the saint from Alexandria were brought, Saint Theodore was considered the main symbol of Venice. The sculpture is considered combined - composed of a marble torso of the Roman commander of the 2nd century and the head of the sculpture of Mithridate Pontic (King Bosporus). According to the legend, the crocodile symbolizes the marine power of Venice.

The famous bridge of sighs (17th century), connecting the Palace of the Doge, where the court was located, with a city prison. The bridge was carried out prisoners sentenced to death.

On the square is always crowded, even deep in the fall

Piazza. On the left of the old prosecution, on the right of the St. Mark's Cathedral in the restoration forests.

The Cathedral of St. Mark is built in Byzantine style and decorated with numerous mosaics. It is stolen in Alexandria the relics of the apostle Mark and many of the valuable vessels of valuable objects, including from Constantinople. In 1987, the Cathedral along with other Venetian monuments is included in the UNESCO World Heritage.