Venice Square. San Marco in Venice - Square with a thousand-year history

Story with photos about the main sights of Venice and her "hearts", the quarter of San Marco: about Piazzette, the Palace of the Doings and cathedral of St. Mark..

True, hide sorcerers
Curtains of black gondola
Where lights on the lagoon -
Thousands of fiery bees. "

"VENICE", Nikolai Gumilev

Sights of Venice, Preface

To understand Venice (as far as possible is possible), it needs to be seen either from above, or on detailed map - and only then pass it all, meter per meter, the bridge behind the bridge, enjoying the highest concentration of architectural and historical relics in the world square kilometer. Venice is extremely small - it can be all from the end to the end in about an hour - but only if you clearly know the goal of the walk and the road to it. If at least one of these conditions is absent (and even better, if both) - then the traveler is guaranteed to get lost, and, in the presence of time and small proliferation of adventurism, it will later be a biographies to remember as one of the most exciting events in life. But still, you must first say a couple of words about the geography of the former city-state city, the superpower and the trading republic. Long narrow barrier torn in several places, root the lagoon from Adriatic Sea - And as a result, it turned out a small creek, somewhere here, then there the waves applied or sand, over time, forming barely noticeable small islands. On this tiny islands, the first settlers were settled, in the 6th century fled here from the mainland from the invasion of Lombards.

Do not risking again to return to the earthly taller, they were forced to make a bet on the water, and not to land - and it was from this crazy solution to a handful of people subsequently grew by the masterpiece. So, on the place where Venice is now, an archipelago of tiny inhabited islets arose. At each, it was necessary to have a church, behind it - the field of grass field (Campo) - that is why there is still squares in Venice, "Campo", and not "Piazza", as in the rest of Italy. At the edges of these campo, there were homes those who signed money for the church, then there were houses of those who are victory. Over time, these numerous islands of the efforts of their inhabitants have grown into larger - and this "camp-centric" system led to the fact that in Venice did not turn out to be rich and poor neighborhoods - everyone lived in the way around their Campo. The islets were joined into il silent and artificial bridges. The Venetian Republic grouped out of a variety of islands-towns submitted to tough discipline and collective interests in the conditions of a permanent "emergency situation" (which is not surprising, given the unique location of the city and the abundance of external enemies and envious, whose number grew along with the growth of Venice's wealth).

Fur, the channels still did not fall asleep completely - and therefore, still Venice remains a unique artificial archipelago. According to some, modern Venice in the plan looks like a fish: her head for the "fishing line" railway It is tied to the mainland - it is interesting that the fish fell on the hook and the Venice republic lost independence from a historical point of view almost simultaneously: in 1797, the Venetian Big Council adopted a Napoleonic constitution, which in fact abolished independent Venice, and a little later was built. train Station Santa Lucia and a branch connecting the archipelago with the mainland.

The body of the fish is cut into a smooth zigzag of a large channel, the main transport artery of Venice, where water is and a carriageway and a pedestrian sidewalk. On the banks of the Big Channel there are six medieval areas of the city: three on the right and three left. On the right, in the trouser fish, there is a main one, San Marco: the power, its relics and luxury focused there, the fish hid almost all their extracted treasures. Above the same side - Cannarezho, with the ancient monasteries and the Jewish mind of Venice, her ghetto - in the days of the first ghetto, this word did not have the current negative meaning. Below is Castello, where the sea and trading power of the republic was caught on the shipyards of the Venetian Arsenal.

To the left of the Big Channel - San Polo and Santa Croce - there are the main bridge of the city, the main market and the main bank, the main attributes of the marine trading power. On the left, there is a slightly removed Dorsoduro, the "jaw" of Venetian fish: a quiet (after San Marco) area of \u200b\u200bthe arts.

It is noteworthy that fish in Venetian Laguna Smells a whole cant: Judecca is barely below, and a small fish of San Georgeo island with a magnificent temple of Palladio. Besides them, Murano is floating near the main fish, the birthplace of Venetian glass; Burano, famous for its colored houses, ancient Tiercello, famous for his mosaics. Venice Lido cannot be circumvented: a place where it makes sense to settle, if there is no desire to overpay at times in the tourist San Marco and Santa Croce, housing prices are much lower, and to the heart of Venice, San Marco district, can be reached by Vaporetto in 15 minutes; Personally, I stayed on Lido, so I recommend. In addition to indisputable financial advantages (which, however, become less tangible at the height of the Italian beach season - on Lido there is a very popular beach) from there you can get to the most distant part of Venice - the fishing village of Kyodju.

For most tourists, Venezia begins (if not considered the station of Santa Lucia or bus station) - here it ends for many: those who come to Venice for one day, hardly have time to see something other than San Marco and couples of famous bridges "on the run". I myself came to Venice for the first time in this mode - half a day from Milan - and on arrival, I realized my mistake. The next time I allocated for Venice for a week - in my opinion, this is the minimum that it deserves. The San Marko area is a series of campo, which flowed one of the other in the triangle between Piazza San Marco, the Academy Bridge and the Rialto Bridge. In the center of the triangle - Campo San Fantin with the La Phenic Theater is an aristocratic center of San Marco.

Sights of Venice: San Marco, Piazzette

Centuries Paradian Piazza lobby (this is how it is common to call the center of San Marco and, therefore, the whole of Venice) was piazzetta (Piazzetta) on the shore of the lagoon, and if you arrived from the water (for example, on the Vaporretto from Lido Island), it will be for you. There is another way to get to Piazza: walk from the w / bunch of Santa Lucia, through the ancient quarters of San Polo and Santa Croce, Channels and bridges through them, following the San Marco squeezed, followed. I will not undertake to argue that one way is "more correct" than the other - I got there and so, both have our charm and charm, so if the situation allows - try both.
At Piazzette, the two columns are attracted from which long tails are fused.

Both columns were "borrowed" in 1172 in Constantinople (actually they smoke theret three, but one during unloading in Venice was drowned). At one of them, Saint Theodore, patron saint of ancient, fishing Venice; There were several Roman statues on his figure, at the foot - the monster like a crocodile, composed of 50 different fragments. On the next column, the Persian chimer of the IV century, which in Venice called the "winged lion", slipped the book for the front paws and declared the symbol of St. Mark and in general the entire republic.
In general, Piazzett should be called the exhibition of achievements of trophy art. Before the side facade of the cathedral, which looks just at Piazzette, there are two pilons; They are Syrian, V century, and brought as a trophy from Palestine in 1100. The corner of the cathedral is built in four porphy shapes; According to legend, this is some Sracins, who gathered something to steal from the cathedral and for it facing stone. In fact, this is an Egyptian sculpture of the IV century, depicting Tetrarchov - Diocletian and three other Roman rulers, but their postures really suggest the idea of \u200b\u200btheft: and here Venetians are perfectly understood in the subject, for the attitude towards theft in Venice was peculiar: if in other countries For such a hand, in Venice in the XVIII century, the pockets could hand over the state stolen under a certain percentage - the republic was still on what to make money - and this "feature" was not once manifested for the long history of the city.

Among the Venetians are still considered a bad admission to pass between two columns: the fact is that it was in this place that the power of the centuries demonstrated its punishing power, here there was a public demonstration of the executive council of the Council of Ten (the Venetian analogue of modern special services) - no one did not give, but everyone knew that the execution was for the betrayal of the interests of the republic.

Landmarks of Venice: San Marco, Na Palace

Venetian Palace of the Doge - One of the most unusual Palaces of rulers in the world: the republic located on the islands under the protection of the most powerful fleet in Europe could afford that its "government residence" can not be a fortress.

Its openwork bottom floor "carries" an impressive volume of the wall, and this whole design resembles a lace. In the era of its creation, such an architecture of the Doge's Palace personified fearlessness and openness, as well as a somewhat arrogant readiness to trade all and with everyone: Venice would even trade on direct banners of the Vatican to trade with the Turks with strategic goods. Between the Palace of Daughters and the Cathedral is the only sample of Gothic architecture in Venice - Parade Gate, Port Della map (Porta della Carta). If the gothic in Venice almost did not penetrate, then the Master of the Renaissance "was cut down" Widow: In addition to the huge number of Venice churches and secular buildings, actually on Piazzette this style is presented in the form Ladders giants

and arches Fotoskari, as well as in the form of a favorite object of Venetian guides, binding a bunch of different beacks with him - Bridge of Summer (Ponte dei sospiri).

Although the guides offer different romantic versions, but the harsh truth is that he is called the bridge of the sighs because he leads from the Palace of the Doing Palace to Prison. In a special premises of the palace, the sentence was announced and convicted on the bridge in the chamber, so it was on him that the prisoners were the last time they saw sunlight and sighed about this. By the way, this prison is known that it was almost impossible to escape from it (along with ordinary cameras there were also the so-called "lead" -piombi); However, it was from such a camera that one of the most famous Venetians of all time - Jacomo Casanova managed to escape. He sat there, however, not for the breakdown, which became widely known after the release of his life position (it was never in Venice), but for espionage. At Piazza, Square in front of the Cathedral of San Marco, it is best to look from the cathedral itself. This beautiful and rather unusual Square Napoleon once called "the most elegant interior of Europe."

Initially, Piazza was used for folk festivities with a fair business of commerce - she and the trading republic. In the edges they gave money to growth and collected taxes, the knightly tournaments and carnivals were organized in the center. It was here that the first institution was opened in Europe, where the unknown Turkish drink was served - coffee. In those times, travelers surprised that no one was in a hurry on Piazza ("only sentenced to Galem worked in Venice" - one of the opinions on this subject), but today it is extremely lively, prestigious and expensive place.

Today, the traditions of that first coffee house adequately continue the two most famous cafes of Venice - "Florian" and "Quadri". Coffee is served remarkable there, but you need to be ready for extremely high prices - Actually, this applies to all the establishments located on Piazza - you can have a symbolically drinking coffee here, but I would not have dinner or dinner. With his appearance in Venice, where every meter is built up, a spacious Piazza is obliged to wait Sebastian Dziani, who missed in the XII century, here all at home and presented their city under demolition. His current form of Piazza found during the Venice "Golden Age" - XVI, at the same time, the building of the old prosecution was built on her far from the lagoon - the House of Procurators, that is, officials on state real estate management. As in our days in some countries, then in Venice this position was very desirable, honorary and monetary. But still in Venice everything was more honest - in view of the "profitability" of the place of procurators, in principle, did not relieve a salary. Around the same era on Piazza there was a mint of a mint - a place where Venetian Golden Czechin was minted, the most stable and secured currency of the then Europe, the medieval analogue of the modern Swiss franc.

Sights of Venice: San Marco, St. Mark Cathedral

Exotic, as far as possible in the then Catholic Europe, the cathedral is considered one of its architectural wonders: it was built as a place of storage of the relics of Holy Brand according to another cathedral - the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.

The then Venice was considered the "beloved daughter" of the shameless Byzantium, which, however, did not prevent the "daughter" subsequently cynically robbery and almost kill the "mother" during the fourth crusade. The similarity with the prototype resembles the shape of the Cathedral in the form of a Greek equal cross. The first building, oddly enough to introduce it in Venice, was very ascetic - while then then did not call the Venetian merchants from the east of the thread to decorate his facade. And yet, the case went pretty slow until Dandolo turned the army of the Crusaders to the defenseless Constantinople and the "Christ's Christian" thoroughly discarded him - after that, the facade of the cathedral was decorated with marble with the graves of Byzantine emperors. By the way, the life story of Dudolo Dudolo and the history of the crusaders of Constantinople clearly talk about the role of "personality in history": once byzantine emperor I had nonsense shortly offend and humiliate the young Dandolo in violation of all the diplomatic traditions of that time; The latter insult, as can be seen, did not forget and, being a deep old man, quickly dismissed the obidchitsa-Byzantium. And after that, safely died in the conquered Great City; However, the history of the old man did not end: when 249 years later, Constantinople, so completely and did not recover from the treacherous strike of Venice and the Crusaders, finally fell under the blows of the Turks, Sultan Mehmed II Fatih ordered the remains of the old dog and throw their dogs - so he expressed his dogs Attitude towards the betrayal of Venice and its ruler.

After examining the paintings and the frescoes of the Cathedral, it is necessary to go to the balcony with its amazing views of the lagoon and Piazza, and where it is another trophy from defendantinople: the bronze quadriga, until 1204 decorated with the Lippodrome. But not only Dandolo got hung on bronze horses: after the death of the republic, Napoleon took them to the area of \u200b\u200bconsent to Paris, but after the renunciation of the Corsican from power in 1815, Quadrig returned to Venice. Maybe they would be returned to Constantinople-Istanbul, but this turn, we must assume, would not suit Russia, one of the winners of Napoleon and the permanent enemy of the Ottoman Empire.

Besides balcony, it is worth a visit Treasurer (Tesoro), where in a separate room you can see the knife, which was used during a secret evening, a piece of the brupper skull, the leg of St. George, the finger of Mary Magdalene, the handwriting of the evangelist Mark, the spike of the throat crown of the Savior, three stones, which was scored by St. Stephen, and Also, bowls and salaries icons exported by all of the same Constantinople.

From the treasury you can get into the altar part of the Cathedral, where, as stated, the relics of the St. Mark are stored in the sarcophagus. However, there is a dark story: Whether they died during a fire of 976, whether they were miraculously survived and were only lost, and then found themselves during the restructuring of the temple, drowned hand from the column. In any case, check their presence in the sarcophagus will not be possible.

Altar fell d-Oroconsisting of 250 enamels bonded among themselves precious stones, I was, oddly enough, not stolen in Constantinople, and Jinno was ordered and paid - it happened before Venice decided that the "old woman" finally seeded.

Sights of Venice: San Marco, Holy Brand Cathedral Bell Tower

Usually, coming out of the cathedral, tourists are closed on campanil (Campanile), the bell tower of the Cathedral of St. Mark.

Campanil, most high building In the city (99 meters), in addition to the direct function of the bell tower was also a guard tower, a lighthouse and a place of punishment: until the XIV century, the priests shouted in Sodomskogo sin. Campagnil has acquired his current outline in 1514, when it was completely rebuilt on the personal agents of Admiral Grimani: after an unsuccessful naval operation, it was necessary to insure against the arrest and the court (there was such a tradition in Venice regarding unfortunate military leaders). Maneuver Grimani should be recognized as successful - six years later, he was elected a birthday. Interestingly, foreigners were allowed to rise at Campanil only during the tide when they could not see the system of chalks and canals in the lagoon.

It was from the bell tower of Goethe first saw the sea, and Galilee on it demonstrated its invention - a telescope.

And on July 14, 1902, at 9 o'clock 55 minutes of the morning, Campanil San Marco collapsed; On the eve of her, the crack went and everyone was waiting for collapse - even orchestras were banned on Piazza. The tower was tremended, but so neatly that the nearby cathedral was not at all suffered, Archangel Gabriel flew gracefully from the top and landed at her foot, and, according to rumors, the cat died only under the bell tower. The restoration of one of the symbols of the city took 9 years and on April 25, 1912, Campagno was revealed again for visits.

Sights of Venice, photo

Venice at night:

Tide on Piazza San Marco:

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An unforgettable impressions from expressing the sights of Venice!
Your Roman Mironenko (Rubezahl)

San Marco Square in Venice (Italy) is indicated in all guidebooks for tourists visiting the region. She rightfully is the main city. Another in the vicinity cannot be compared with it in size nor the historical, cultural, architectural attractions presented there. Residents of the city just got used to calling Piazza (Square - Translated from Italian). All other places similar to the functions in Venice they call the Campo (field) or Campiello (small field).

San Marco - the main square of Venice

It is customary to share its territory into two sites. Piazza is the main and most large part of it. Piazzette - a plot leaving the embankment. It can be said that this is a gate from the sea. It is their first to see tourists arriving in Venice on the water. At the entrance immediately fall into the field of view two majestic columns from marble with symbolic sculptures at the top.

San Marco - Square, in shape resembling a trapezium. The length of it is 175 m, the minimum width is 56 m, and the maximum 82 m. Previously, during its formation (IX century) it was much smaller. Only a small platform was mentioned opposite exactly at the time of the relics of holy profits in Venice. The cathedral was erected in his honor, and he began to patronize the city. Over time, the shrine was rebuilt and expanded, adding new decorations and architectural parts by adding new decorations and architectural details.

History

The place has become of particular importance and importance since 829, when in the built basilica were buried by merchants from Alexandria, the power of San Marco - the square in front of the religious shrine was also becoming an important place of pilgrimage. In 1267, it was packed using masonry.

Next to the cathedral over the course of several centuries, a majestic bell tower was erected, which was completed only in the XVI century. In addition to 1177, Papa Alexander III and Emperor Barbarossa were reconciled on this square. It traditionally conducted important ceremonial processions, tournaments and symbolic hunting for bulls were held. In the area after bringing the oath, the Venetians joined the rights and armed for the throne of great guards.

The organizers considered that the territory of the ceremonial place was insufficient and in 1777 it was expanded to existing sizes. Since 1807, the rebounded Cathedral of St. Mark became a cathedral. In 1902, the famous bell tower (Campanile) collapsed on the square. But the majestic building was restored in its original form after a decade.

sights

What else is the famous Venice? San Marco is one of the six districts of the city. It is considered the heart of the city and known, including the famous area of \u200b\u200bthe same name. The main place on it occupies the Palace of the Doge. He survived the destruction and fires. IN majestic building At various times, Senate began, a great advice, judges and even a secret police. But, first of all, it was the main residence of the Republic of the Republic.

In addition to the above-mentioned bell tower made of red bricks, towering almost 99 meters and used at night as a lighthouse for ships, the eye is not so high, but an equally famous hour tower in the surrounding architectural complex. She is adjacent to the facade of the old prosecution. It is of interest richly decorated with statues and bas-reliefs The building at the base of Campanile - Loggetta is originally designed as a facility for a venel meeting arriving in the city. It is impossible not to mention the exquisite bunk facade of the National Library of San Marco. Square, according to experts, is the brightest example of medieval architectural architecture.

Modernity

There is an opinion that San Marco Square in Venice together with the city gradually falls under the water. Perhaps, in the coming decades, the surrounding area due to increased sea levels will be made unsuitable for habitat. But now all attractions are open to tourists. In the unique museum.

It is difficult to argue that is a greater attraction of the building - exterior or its interior. Among the exhibits of the museum are the richest collections, trophies, maps, historical documents. You can buy souvenirs for every taste, to observe the majestic panorama from the observation deck on the chapel or basilica.

San Marco - Pigeon Square

Why do everyone who visited Venice say so? There is a legend about the pair of birds, once donated birth on the occasion of coronation. We set out from the cell, they sat on the consecrated arch of the built basilica. This was counted with a good sign, so the pigeons subsequently released on the occasion of Palm Sunday. The tradition led to the fact that the birds did not fly away far away, and settled in the district. They were safe on the square, they were constantly fed.

The authorities had to solve the problems of cleaning the sights from the products of vital activity of pigeons. They did not give them to tourists in full to appreciate the magnificent beauty of historical and cultural attractions. On numerous arches and cornices had to install structures distracting birds. There were periods when even restrictions on sale on bird feed area were introduced.

Surrounded by the monuments of world culture, this place literally breathes the story and manits the travelers to their Piazzettes. "The Great Salon of Europe" - so called Napoleon famous central Square Venice.

The Dominant Square is considered to be the Doge Palace - a monument to the Italian Gothic architecture and the main building of the entire Venice, as well as the bell tower of the Basilica of St. Mark at some distance.

You can not go around the Cathedral of St. Mark, which is generously decorated with mosaics made in the Byzantine style. The Cathedral is the last refuge of the relics of the apostle Mark, and under his arches there are many most valuable objects of art taken out of Constantinople during crusades.

Square St. John and St. Paul

The Basilica of Saints John and Paul is located in the Venetian Quarter Castello. This church is considered a kind of urban pantheon. According to legend, the Basilica was built at Skom Yakopo Tapolo, who in 1234 presented the Chapel of St. Daniel to Venice to Venice. The church was devoted to the two Roman martyrs in John and Paul. Simultaneously with the temple, a monastery was built.

Architecturally, the building is a bright sample of Venetian Gothic and is typical of monastic churches. The facade is composed of brick and divided into three parts by lysenes (flat vertical protrusions). In the central part of the facade - a large round window, in the side - round windows of a smaller diameter. On the marble, the cornices are established by the Statues of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Dominica and St. Peter-Martyr Veronsky. At the bottom of the facade - six Gothic Arches and Byzantine reliefs.

The famous bronze monument is installed on the church, dedicated to the Bartholomeo Colloni, the work of the sculptor Andrea Verrocko. This statue is the second on a full-scale equestrian monument to the Renaissance.

Square of St. Mark.

Here is the center of public life of the city, the place of solemn ceremonies, church and folk holidays. About this beautiful in Europe Square they say that lions fly on it, and birds, that is, pigeons, packed with aristocratic importance

San Marco Square in Venice can conventional and can be divided into two parts: Piazzette and Piazzo. Piazzette is a small area between the Sacred Mark's Spring and the Judecca Channel. She welcomes guests input gates in the form of two granite columns. On the right of them there is a Doge Palace (city rulers), on the left - the Marchian library, the bell tower ends. San Marco Cathedral is the center of attraction - the main attraction of the city. No less interesting buildings of prosecutations, the hour tower, Loggetta. Modern look, shape, sizes it acquired by 1777. Now its length is 175 m, the width is 82 m.

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History

The history of this amazing place It is rooted in 829 year. Venetian merchants who had trade affairs in the Egyptian Alexandria were committed to secretly to take the power of the Great Christian Saint Holy, the Apostle Jesus Christ - the evangelist Mark, hiding them in sarcophagus among pork skins. Apparently they noticed that Muslims never touch the "unclean" cargo. The plan was a success, customs inspected bypassed them, and the power was safely arrived in Venice.

Basilica San Marco was built to accommodate them, respectively, and the area in front of it was called. In 976, during a fire, the building suffered greatly. Instead, a majestic cathedral was built. The square gradually expanded, became the city center, it was held on it all political events, folk holidays and even executions.

Architectural attractions

Acquaintance with landmarks begins for tourists immediately as soon as they leave Vaporetto (sea taxis). Piazza San Marco is concentrated by a number of historic buildings and structures.

Columns of St. Mark and Theodore

The first thing they see guests, stepping on the pavement, these are two granite columns. They were brought from Constantinople in 1125, and installed only in 1196. Columns are monolithic and very heavy, the weight of each more than 100 tons, it was because of this for a long time could not be installed. One of the columns is crowned with a marble statue of St. Theodore with a spear, which tramples the feet of the dragon. This scene symbolizes the power of Venice over the marine element. Saint Theodore was the first patron saint of the city and still love and read the Venetians.

On the capitals of the other column - the Bronze Winged Lion, holding a paw on the open Gospel. Lion - biblical symbol of St. Mark. It is depicted on the coat of arms of Venice. This figure is more than 2500 years old, for one version it was brought from China, others see the sample of Assyrian art in it. In former times, the space between the columns served as a place of executions. Until now, the Venetians consider the bad will take the time where death sentences were accomplished.

San Marco Cathedral

According to the existing legend, the evangelist Mark preached Christianity in the Venetian lagoon. Once, hitting a terrible storm, he has already worried her. Angel appeared in a dream and announced that he would gain the eternal peace on this earth. And now, by the 12th centuries, the power of the saint rests under the arches of the Cathedral, named in his honor. From the first view, the Cathedral of San Marco amazes with its magnificence. Basilica, built in 829, suffered greatly from the fire of 976, so in her place they decided to build a new building. The modern view of the cathedral acquired in 1094.

At that time, the influence of the Venice of Constantinople was great. Therefore, the building is elevated in the Byzantine pompous style, with luxury, uncharacteristic for temple structures Western Europe. The marble facade is decorated with numerous columns, towers, bas-reliefs, sculptures. Unusually beautiful mosaic compositions with the scenes of the "Scary Court" and the "abduction of the relics of the Holy Mark".

The cathedral has five input portals. Above the main thing - installed the majestic bronze quadriga (four horses). Sculptures refer to the work of an ancient Greek mastery of the 4th century BC. They decorated the triumphal arch of Nero in Rome, and then the arch of Trojan. Venetians went as a military trophy. The temple is crowned with five domes lined with silver rectangular plates.

No less fascinates inner decoration. Because of the abundance of gold, the Cathedral of San Marco is often called the "Golden Cathedral". Archings, walls, dome covered with mosaic from multicolored Murano glass. The dome is painted by scenes "Creation of the World". But the main jewel is under the altar: it is cancer with the relics of St. Mark.

Golden Altar - Great Work gothic art Made in 1345. Its dimensions - 3.50 * 1.4m. It depicts episodes from the Holy Scriptures, the life of the Holy Brand. Enamels and 2500 stones are inserted into the precious salary: amethysts, emeralds, sapphires, rubies. The iconostasis is made of silver, covered with a layer of gold, decorated with a variety of enamel plates, precious stones.

Clock tower

The building was built in 1499 under the leadership of the architect Koducci. The composition consists of four parts. The main element is a blue-gold astronomical clock. On the dial two circles: outdoor and internal. Golden arrow shows the time along the outer circle. On the internal - the signs of the zodiac and the moon phases are depicted. Above the clock is set copper statue of a sitting Madonna with a baby Christ. Twice a year, on the Epiphany and Ascension, the Magi appears in front of it, bowing in the bow.

On both sides of the statue - small rectangular windows, which indicate the current hours and minutes. Above the sculpture of the winged lion holding the open gospel in the paws. The tower of the statue of two maurs from bronze is crowned: an old man and a young man. In their hands, they have long hammers with which they periodically hit the bell: 5 minutes to a whole hour and after 5 minutes. This is a symbol of flowing forward.

San Marco Library

The library is on the north side of the Piazzetta. The length of the building is 80 m. It is built in 1537-1545. According to the project of the architect Sansovino. Initially, the library was intended for storing the ancient Greek, Latin primitive books and manuscripts (handwritten scrolls), presented by the city by Cardinal Bressanone.

In subsequent years, they were replenished at the expense of military trophies, monastic and family collections. Now the San Marco library (Marciana) has about 40 thousand unique specimens. The white facade is very apparent, decorated with balustrade from statues, columns. Interior decoration is not less refined: on the walls - portraits of famous thinkers and philosophers, in the gilded hall they are kept manuscripts in sophisticated bindings.

Palace of the Doge

The building in the style of Venetian Gothic, decorated with columns, openwork arches creates an impression of air and ease. It is located one side to the sea, the facade - to the square. The ladder of giants, on both sides of it - two huge statues, symbolizing war and the sea: Mars and Neptune. Between them at the top - the bas-relief of the winged lion. Favorite friends gave the oath.

The Doge's Palace was built in the XIV century, had several destinations:

• Dress private apartments (ruler of Venice). There they lived and ruled
• Master, where the Senate was meeting, the Council was located various colleges
• Civil and Church Court
• The tribune - from the balcony of the second floor, came to the inhabitants of Venice
• Jail

The laws were discussed in the lounges of magistracy, political, church issues were solved, ambassadors and diplomatic missions were taken. The tribune of the 18th century was preserved in the Senate Hall of the Senate. The interior of the palace is striking by his luxury. Walls and ceiling are lined with marble, tapestries, leather with gold trim.

The decoration is the canvas of ingenious artists, such as Titian, Tintoretto, Pordenone, Frescoes Paolo Veronese. On some depicted scenes that glorify Venice: the victorious battles, the construction of the fleet, sea battles. On others - episodes from the Holy Scriptures, gods antique World. Special attention is worthy of a unique collection of weapons: combat, decorative, trophy. Total exposition has 2031 subject, among them the armor of the French king Henry IV, Knight Crusaders, Turkish Standard, Sabli, Musketes.

Old and new prosecution

The prosecution were built to accommodate the highest officials of the executive authorities - procurators. Their obligations included the fulfillment of the decisions of the Digest and Senate in the financial, legal, property, political and other fields. The first prosecution is old - built on the north side of the square in 1532. This is a long three-story building with arches, loggias, columns. Because of the growing bureaucratic apparatus, one building was not enough.

In 1586, in front of it, new prosecutions were built. And in 1810, by the decree of Napoleon in the west, another building was built - Alla Napoleonic (Napoleon's wing), connecting both prosecution. All buildings are built in the uniform style of the Renaissance. Now museums are located on the upper floors, the lower is given under the cafe.

Lodgenetta Sansovino

Loggietta is a small refined building created by the architect's project Sansovino in the Baroque style, adjacent to the bell tower. Building time: 1537-1540 years. The facade is made of white and colored marble, decorated with columns, bas-reliefs with scenes from antique mythology, statues of gods. For a long time Lodgetta served as a meeting place for noble patricians. Later, it was located in the guard of the Palace of the Doge. Now through the litter is included on the bell tower's observation platform.

Campanila

Campanil - observation deck and bell tower of San Marco Cathedral. The base has a square shape with a side of 12 m, a height of 98.6 m. It is built out of the brick, is crowned with a marble bell with five bells, decorated with statues of goddesses of justice, Venus, Minerva, a figure of a winged lion. The bell tower is completed with a pyramid form, on the top of which a fluger with a gold archangel height is 2 m.

The first tower in this place was built in the 9th century, served looking platform And the lighthouse. At the beginning of the XVI century, a new version of the bell tower was built. She stood almost 400 years and collapsed in 1902. Ten years went work, and the initial species was restored completely.

San Marco - Pigeon Square

Pigeons have become an integral part of Piazza San Marco. According to legend, a lot of guests arrived at the consecration of the cathedral. Among the gifts there were two pigeons, which were released on the will. They sat on the cornice of the cathedral, which was considered a symbolic sign, the pigeons are recognized as sacred. Since then, a tradition was developed and feeding birds.

Over time, their great set was broken. From sanitary considerations, and to limit offspring, pigeons feed with a special feed. Until 2008, packers could be bought on the square, but then the sale stopped and the tourists were forbidden to feed birds.

Ticket time and ticket prices

The time of operation of the attractions on Piazzo San Marco varies on the seasons. The high season is considered to be April-October, low: October-April.

Saint Brand Cathedral:

• The entrance to the cathedral is free. On weekdays opening hours: 9.30 -17.00, on weekends: 14.00-17.00.
• A ticket to the Museum of St. Mark costs 5 €. Open daily: 9.45 - 16.50.
• Visiting Treasury - 3 €. On weekdays: 9.45 - 17.00, weekends: 14.00 - 17.00
• Entrance to the Golden Altar 2 €. On weekdays: 9.45 -17.00, weekends: 14.00 -17.00

In the low season, the visits time is reduced per hour. The entrance to the Cathedral with baggage is prohibited, you can not do photo and video filming, speaking loudly and be in open clothing.

San Marco Square

Square of St. Mark, the work of Cantelto, 1730. The area looks the same as in our days.

Plan of the area of \u200b\u200b1831

CESARE VECELLIO. View of Saint Mark XVI Century

San Marco Square (ITal. Piazza San Marco), or St. Mark's Square - Main City Square Venice, Italy. Logically consists of two parts: Piazzettes - platforms from the Grand Canal to the bell tower, and directly Piazzians (Square).

The area was formed in the 9th century, as a small space in front of the Cathedral of the Holy Brand. In 1777, it was expanded to their current dimensions.

The architectural dominant area is the Doge Palace and, which is at some distance the bell tower of the Basilica of St. Mark with the boot. Around the area, if you look counterclockwise from the Big Channel, come out:

Columns of St. Mark and Holy Theodore

Palace of the Doge

Cathedral of St. Mark.

Holiday Tower of St. Mark

Old and new prosecution, on the first floor of which are several cafes, including the famous Cafe Florian.

Ala Napoleonic

San Marco Library

Bridge

At the end of the XIII century, the area was paved with bricks "in the Christmas tree". At the same time, the stripes of light stone laid parallel to the long axis of the area. These lines were probably used as markers when organizing frequent ceremonial processes. This is the original type of bridge is captured on the canvas of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, for example, on the procession on St. Mark's Square, Gentile Bellini, 1496.

Countless pigeons of deploying areas have become an integral part of the city landscape. There is a legend that tells about the appearance of pigeons on San Marco:

In Venice, there was a tradition to bring birth once a year of gifts from every district of the city and religious fraternities. These were usually food - fruit, sweets, game and the like. Once, in the year of completion of the construction of the Basilica of San Marco, a cell with two pigeons was discovered among the gifts. The birds were released from the cage and they flew out and sat down on the arch of the facade of the only sanctified basilica. It was interpreted as the next miracle of St. Mark, which thus gave to know what the pigeons became sacred birds to whom the Holy Holy. The reason was signed by the decree, according to which the shortest pledged to feed this pair of pigeons at his own expense and all their offspring ... This decree was subsequently confirmed by the Senate, even when birds became too much. Only in December 2008, in the midst of the epidemic of bird flu, the city authorities decided to prohibit the sale on the San Marco Square for pigeons.

9. Cathedral ensemble in Pisa

The falling tower in Pisa is the Cathedral's bell tower in the city of Pisa (Italy), located at the Cathedral Square, which is often referred to as the Square of Miracles. The famous 'Falling' Tower (Torre Pe'ldente) is a bell tower (Campanile) of the Cathedral in the city of Pisa, a part of a rare in its beauty architectural ensemble, in addition to the bell tower and the cathedral, is still from the chapel for baptism (Baptistery) and cemeteries. If the 'falling' tower would not be labeled, but stood strictly vertically, like all the other towers in the world, glory would probably be probably only a narrow circle of architects and historians. Thanks to its constructive flaw, it is known all over the world. Work on the construction of Campanis began in 1174.

It is believed that the architects were Bonanno Pisano and Guellamo da Innsbruck.

After the Bell Tower of the Pavia Cathedral collapsed in 1989, Consorzio Progetto Torre Di Pisa (Consortium of the Project of the Pisa Tower) instructed the engineers to stabilize the "falling" tower. Due to the fact that the tower leaked in different directions of the first years, she sparkled slightly like a banana. Engineers work on the foundation of the tower more than over the structure itself, hoping to return the top of the tower about 20 minutes back. But this means that the 800-year-old tower will remain "falling".

Work on the conservation of the tower (solving the problem of its inclination) began during construction. The first commission of experts worked on it in 1298, the inspections were carried out in 1396, in 1550, repeated in 18-19 centuries. Until our time, 15 commissions worked on it. In 1935, to make the foundation of the tower moistureproof, liquid cement introduced into it. In 1992, at the height of the first gallery and under the cornice of the monument, 18 steel rings covered with special plastic were superimposed, which were supposed to prevent further emergence of the building. For the temporary strengthening of the foundation from the northern side, 600 tons of lead were put, which in 1993 was transferred to the platform connected to the tower using the hoop.

The falling 'tower has a cylindrical shape and rushes upwards with its eight tiers (counting the ringing). The six central floors are bored with elegant decorative arcades, in whose appearance, the influence of the Byzantine or Muslim architectural tradition was affected. The question of possible Muslim influences is doubly, since it is still not clear whether the idea of \u200b\u200ba separate bell tower arose in the Christian church architecture under the influence of Muslim minarets, or, on the contrary, these minarets themselves, from whom Muzzins themselves called on believers to the prayer, lead their pedigree From the Christian bells. The tower was built as a bell tower at the Pisan Cathedral, the construction of which began a century earlier. It happened after the victorious sea battle of the Pisans against Saracin at Palermo in 1063. In the Pisan Cathedral there are several burials of various historical figures, among whom are the tomb of the German Emperor Henry VII. Architectural style The structures acquired fame called Romano-Pisansky. In the black and white marble facing of the outer walls, again, the influence of Islam is obvious. The facade of the first floor is crowned with arcades, and at the top of the decorative arcades are located in several tiers over each other, decreasing from the center to the flanks and forming a frontal design. The cathedral with its middle and transverse neopa and a richly ornamented interior was finally completed later.

Round in terms of tower, made of stone and marble, causes admiration for its grand sizes, squinting and feeling of the "Fall Effect". The height of the eight-tier bell tower is 58.36 m above the foundation, the base diameter is 15.54 m, the deviation at the base level exceeds 4 m. The tower central cylinder is posted out of the brick. The thickness of the outer walls is reduced from the base to the top (at the base - 4.9 m, at the height of galleries - 2.48 m). The bottom tier of the bell tower is decorated with 15 semi-colonents. The opening and ease of the tower give columns, with rounded arches resting on them, with passages under them: 6 tiers of arcade 30 columns in each. Upstairs is an elegantly decorated bells with bells. Inside the cylinder of the bell tower there is a screw staircase from 294 steps, which can be reached on the sightseeing platform.

The tower is decorated with an ornament of colored marble (white and light gray). At the entrance there are bas-reliefs with a picture of fantastic animals, upstairs - Lupente with the sculpture of Madonna with the infant Andrea Guard (15 century)

In 1564, Galileo Galilee was born in Pisa, the future famous scientist. Judging by his own stories, he used the Pisa Tower for his experiments. From the top floor he threw various items to prove that the rate of fall does not depend on the weight of the incident body.

Masters, who made a huge contribution to the construction and decoration of the Pisa Tower, the first builder of the temple was the architect of Busquetto, probably a leaving from Greece. This is indicated by the surname of the master and the composition of the Cathedral, ascending to the ideas of the Byzantine architecture of the V century.

After 1118, the construction of the Pisa Cathedral continued Master Rainaldo. He lengthened the main non-building and elevated the facades. It is him that it belongs to the design of the main facade of the cathedral in the form of several rows of lungs, elegant semicircular arcades. In Tuscany, it was not customary to decorate the facades churches sculpture, and Master Rainaldo simply won the facade of white and black, with a gray-blue shade, a stone with marble inlays. Under the bright South Sun, the Pisa Cathedral contrasts with the greenery of the meadow and, it seems, absorbs all the paints of the sky. The cathedral produces an amazing impression due to the jewelry finish of its columns and arches, creating a feeling of toyness. How much patience and love was needed to massers so carefully and painstakingly connect into a single whole set of marble details! Mostly the construction of the Pisa Cathedral was completed in the 1150s. Such a relatively fast building is explained by the fact that the masters did not spend time on the construction of complex stone archives: the overlap of the central nef is made wooden. Colorful mosaic panels are placed above the portals. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with a gilded ceiling and numerous marble sculptures. Sculpture works in the temple are associated with the name of an outstanding Italian master Niccolo Pisano. His sculptures resemble the art of the time of the Roman Empire of the times of early Christianity. Many researchers see the first glimpses of the Renaissance era ("PRATINESSANS") in the work of Pisa. The father of his father continued his son, Giovanni Pisano, also worked a lot over the decoration of the temple.

Construction of campanille ("of the Pisa Tower") was started in 1174, as suggested by Wilhelm (Gulielmo) Masters from Innsbruck and Bonnano. The tower has a monolithic base surrounded by "blind" (without passing inside) arcades. The six tiers of arched galleries are rising above them, such as the arcade of the main facade of the cathedral. This motive arcades unites the entire ensemble into a single whole.

In the Altar of the Pisa Cathedral, the colossal statue of Christ rises. Very good marble gothic department (Ambon) - the work of the Father and Son of Pisano, one of the main full-terrainities of the cathedral. The department is richly decorated with sculpture and reliefs of Niccolo Pisano, completed about 1260. In general, the inner decoration of the cathedral suffered a lot during the fire of 1596.

The famous cathedral ensemble in Pisa is a masterpiece of medieval Italian architecture. The creation of the ensemble began in 1063, when the building of the city cathedral ensemble, which included the White-Paper Cathedral, the Bell Tower and Baptistery Cathedral, was laid on the outskirts of the city, on a green meadow. So, one of the outstanding works of the Middle Ages was formed at the area remote from the city center, which had a huge impact on the development of Italian culture.