No, we didn’t fall into a canal! But we still got our feet wet during our visit to Venice.
It was beautiful weather in Venice! In T-shirts, shorts and sandals, we set off in the morning for another day of exploring the lagoon city. The destination for this day – St Mark’s Square, Basilica di San Marco!
We had informed ourselves a bit, as the queues at the Basilica promised long waiting times. That’s why we arrived early and hoped we wouldn’t have to wait forever. We were all the more surprised when we arrived at St Mark’s Square. Overnight, the square had become a huge puddle. Long footbridges had been erected so that we could stand in line dry-footed to get into the Basilica. Other footbridges had been built as paths across St Mark’s Square. People were jostling to try to cross the square. We decided to postpone the queuing and tried to cross the square on the footbridges. It was more standing than walking. So we took off our sandals and walked barefoot across the square. I had my fun, but it was a pity that one heard rather negative comments from the visitors to the city and that the joy of having experienced an unusual visit, which not everyone experiences, did not dominate.
It’s a pity that the cafés on St Mark’s Square are so expensive. I would have loved to sit at a table, dangle my feet in the water and watch people moving carefully across the walkways. But these prices are not worth the fun!
Why is the water in St Mark’s Square suddenly rising?
Acqua alta, as the high tide in Venice is called, mainly occurs in the colder seasons. It depends on the tides and therefore always lasts only a few hours. At normal high tide, the water level rises by about 90 cm. Only when there is a particularly strong tide and the sirocco pushes inland, the water level can rise higher and is then called “Acqua alta”.
If the water rises above 100 cm above normal, the lowest point in the city, St Mark’s Square, begins to turn into a huge puddle about 20 cm high. At 140 cm, about 90% of the city is flooded and a state of emergency is declared.
The Basilica di San Marco in St Mark’s Square
We made our visit to the Basilica anyway.
After about 30 minutes of waiting, we were allowed through a security check into the nave.
The first impression – is it crowded here! Groups hurried behind their guides, people were talking everywhere, taking photos (even though it is actually forbidden). A fixed route leads the visitors through the church. It is rather difficult to stand still, even at the edge, as hectic visitors push their way past. Of course, if you want to discover Venice in one day, you have to go fast!
So take a breath and take a second look at the beauties of the Basilica di San Marco.
The Basilica is the most important medieval building in the city. In the course of Venice’s history, numerous alterations and extensions were carried out, with each Doge contributing his own ideas. The interior is beautiful. The floor is decorated with a stone mosaic. Many works of art can be seen. In the choir area is an iconostasis with figures of the 12 apostles, Mary and St Mark. Under the high altar is the sarcophagus of St Mark. But I particularly liked the wall and ceiling design. The lower part of the walls is covered with marble slabs. The upper wall area and the ceilings are dominated by mosaics with a gold background. Everything shines and glitters, really beautiful.
Address:
San Marco,
328, Venezia, Italien
Opening hours Basilica:
Monday – Saturday: 9.45 am – 5 pm
Sunday and holidays: 2 – 4 pm
Admission fees:
free of charge
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