St Mark's in ten minutes

Chapitres

1. 0:00Welcome to the square

   Welcome to St Mark's Square. Before looking at the monuments, pause for a moment in the middle of the square. Notice how the arcades of the Procuratie lead your eye towards the basilica, like a great hall without a ceiling.

2. 0:18The basilica façade

   The basilica's façade is a patchwork of different eras. Arches, coloured marble columns and domes tell of centuries of trade with the East. Up on the loggia, the four gilded horses are copies: the originals are protected in the museum inside.

3. 0:39Towards the water

   Now turn towards the water. The Doge's Palace, with its light loggia, seems to rest on empty space. It was the seat of government: from here the Republic looked out at the sea that made it rich.

4. 0:57A practical tip

   A tip: come back in the evening or early in the morning. With fewer people you can hear footsteps on the stone and really grasp the scale of this space. This audio guide is a demo text.