Piazza San Marco

We caught the ferry: vaporetto down the Grand Canal to Piazza San Marco.  A very busy thorough fare passing the ancient pastel coloured buildings that appear to float on water.  San Marco's square is a very busy destination lots of tourists, it has experienced flooding in the past and apparently is sinking each year which the city authorities are trying to halt.  In the magical city of canals you can't take a bad photo; the Venetians at the height of their wealth wanted to impress and represent themselves to the rest of the world  as a grand and powerful player in the seafaring trade which is evident in the beautiful buildings. 

Palazzo Ducale 14th C where the Doge (duke) lived and where Casanova escaped from the prison.

Chasing the pigeons in San Marco square

View from the top of San Marco Tower

The entrance to the Basilica di San Marco: you can't take photos of the interior but the 8500sqm of ceilings are covered in gold leaf mosaics - stunning!

In front of the Palazzo Ducale

San Marco Tower

A pianist in the square