The lore of San Marco Venice
San Marco is one of Venice's six sestieri, or sixths. From 810 it was the seat of the Doges, Venice's rulers.
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c. 810
Doge Angelo Partecipazio, Venice's ruler, moves the government from Malamocco island to the Rialto islands. A palace is planned on this spot.
829
Saint Mark's body is brought from Alexandria, in Egypt. A first church named for him, San Marco, is consecrated in 832.
Procuratoria di San Marco (Basilica di San Marco, official site)
1063
Work begins on the basilica that stands today, under Doge Domenico Contarini. It is consecrated 31 years later, in 1094.
Procuratoria di San Marco (Basilica di San Marco, official site)
c. 1172
Doge Sebastiano Ziani fills in the Rio Baratario canal and moves San Geminiano church back. This starts today's piazza.
c. 1340
Rebuilding of the palace's lagoon side begins. In 1419 the Great Council, Venice's lawmaking assembly, first meets in its new hall.
1499
Over the Merceria, the city's main commercial street, a clock tower is unveiled. Its archway marks the way in from the piazza.
c. 1499
Pietro Contarini adds a spiral staircase tower to his palace. Venetians nickname the family “del Bovolo”, of the snail.
1591
The wooden Rialto bridge collapsed under a crowd in 1444 and again in 1524. Architect Antonio da Ponte finishes its stone replacement.
Getty News, J. Paul Getty TrustStructurae (structural engineering database)WikipediaThe History Blog
c. 1600
A bridge joins the palace courtrooms to new prisons. The poet Lord Byron gave it its English name, the Bridge of Sighs.
1802
Spectator stands collapse during a bull chase in Campo Santo Stefano, killing several people. Bullfights here end for good.
Facaros & Pauls, Venice Art & CultureVenice Tourist Information
1807
Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy, ruling Venice, orders a royal palace on the piazza. San Geminiano church is pulled down to make room.
WikipediaWikipediaFondation Napoléon (napoleon.org)Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (MUVE)
1902
The Campanile, the basilica's bell tower, collapses, killing no one. Rebuilt as it was and where it was, it reopens in 1912.
Procuratoria di San Marco (Basilica di San Marco, official site)
OUR PICK2026
Behind the Bridge of Sighs, Birreria Forst, where gondoliers stop. Our pick for tramezzini in Venice.
Today
Today San Marco is the best known part of Venice, famous for its piazza and its historic cafés.
SOURCES
- Palazzo Ducale: historyFondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (MUVE)
- History of the Basilica (Essential chronology)Procuratoria di San Marco (Basilica di San Marco, official site)
- Bell towerProcuratoria di San Marco (Basilica di San Marco, official site)
- Torre dell'Orologio: the museumFondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (MUVE)
- Rialto BridgeWikipedia
- Rialto Bridge fully restored after 425 yearsThe History Blog
- Bridge of SighsWikipedia
- Piazza San MarcoWikipedia
- San Geminiano, VeniceWikipedia
- Piazza San Marco before and after the building of the Ala NapoleonicaFondation Napoléon (napoleon.org)
- Museo Correr: the buildingFondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (MUVE)
- Nicole Block, 'Why Views of Venice's Rialto Bridge Look So Familiar', 5 September 2017Getty News, J. Paul Getty Trust
- Rialto Bridge (Venice, 1591)Structurae (structural engineering database)
- Venice sestieri attractions guideMarriott Traveler
- San MarcoVenezia Unica (City of Venice)
- I tramezzini più buoni di VeneziaDissapore
- Palazzo Contarini del BovoloVenicExplorer
- Scala Contarini del BovoloItaly Heaven
- Campo Santo StefanoFacaros & Pauls, Venice Art & Culture
- Campo Santo StefanoVenice Tourist Information
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. The print of San Marco