View of St Mark’s Square, Venice, late 18th century

St Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco in Italian, Piasa San Marco in Venetian) is situated on the banks of the Grand Canal and forms the heart of the city of Venice. The square is named after the evangelist and Christian patron saint of Venice, St Mark. It is home to St Mark’s Basilica, St Mark’s Campanile and the Doge’s Palace.
Today, the square is of primarily historical, architectural and tourist interest. But in the past, it was the political, religious and economic centre of the Republic of Venice. Napoleon Bonaparte nicknamed it ‘the most elegant parlour in Europe’.