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San Marco is one of six districts (sestieri) of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Venice, Italy. It’s located at the heart of the city and contains its most famous landmarks, including the Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Campanile, and St. Mark’s Basilica.

While we didn’t spend as much time as I would have liked in the district outside of Piazza San Marco, we did get to walk through it a few times.

 

Campo San Bartolomeo

The first part of the district we saw was Campo San Bartolomeo as we were walking to the Rialto Bridge. It contains a statue of playwright Carlo Goldoni (1707-1793) and the Church of San Bartolomeo (Chiesa di San Bartolomeo). The church was founded in 830 and renovated in 1170, later becoming the church of the German community in Venice.

Campo San Bartolomeo in Venice, Italy
Campo San Bartolomeo

 

Royal Gardens

Next, after visiting the Piazza San Marco, we walked behind the New Procuratie (Procuratie Nuove) to the Grand Canal where we made a quick stop at the Royal Gardens (Giardini Reali). To be honest, it doesn’t have much going for it. Before it became a garden, the space served as a gondola yard, granary, and prison.

Royal Gardens in Venice, Italy
Royal Gardens

 

Campo Santo Stefano

Later, we walked through the very large Campo Santo Stefano. It contains a well and a monument to Italian journalist Niccolò Tommaseo (1802-1874) in the center and has some restaurants and cafés on the eastern side.

Campo Santo Stefano in Venice, Italy
Campo Santo Stefano
Campo Santo Stefano in Venice, Italy
Campo Santo Stefano
Statue of Niccolò Tommaseo (left) in Campo Santo Stefano in Venice, Italy
Statue of Niccolò Tommaseo (left) in Campo Santo Stefano

The 14th century Church of Santo Stefano (Chiesa di Santo Stefano) sits to the north of the square. It costs €3.50 to visit (as of August 2024) or free for holders of the Chorus Pass.

Church of Santo Stefano in Venice, Italy
Church of Santo Stefano

 

Campo Sant’Anzolo

A few steps away is Campo Sant’Anzolo, which is named for the church that once stood there. It’s a scenic square with two 15th century wells in the center and some nice palazzos around it. The church, San Michele Arcangelo (Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo), was demolished in 1837.

Campo Sant'Anzolo in Venice, Italy
Campo Sant’Anzolo
Palazzo Duodo (left) and the bell tower of the Church of Santo Stefano in Campo Sant'Anzolo in Venice, Italy
Palazzo Duodo (left) and the bell tower of the Church of Santo Stefano

 

Campo Manin

Finally, as it started to get dark we walked through Campo Manin. The Church of San Paternian (Chiesa di San Paternian), demolished in 1871, used to take up part of the square. In the center of the there’s a statue of Daniele Manin (1804-1857) sculpted in 1875 by Luigi Borro. Manin is considered by many to be a hero of Italian unification.

Campo Manin in Venice, Italy
Campo Manin

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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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