This is the most famous place in Venice. The Piazza San Marco is the only square in the city that bears the name "piazza". All other places in Venice are called "campi" because they were originally not paved.
In the photo you can see a section of this large square: the "Procuratie di San Marco", the Venetian building authority. It has existed since the Middle Ages. There the assets of San Marco were administered, the building contracts were assigned and the leading architects appointed. The office of the procurator was associated with great political influence and therefore much sought after.
The square extends to the Grand Canal with the famous landmarks of Venice - the Campanile and the Doge's Palace.
Napoleon called this place "the most beautiful ceremonial hall of Europe". In summer it is populated by tourists, photographers and pigeons. Now, on this winter day, it is almost empty.
Beautiful shot Jerome, I love this! It was almost exactly 20 years ago that I stood in that very square, end of Feb 1997... but seeing it through your eyes and lens is something else! Just perfect.
Love this so very much! It makes me yearn for my time in Italy again. I lived and worked in Italy for 4 years from the age of 19 and travelled all over the country there - this is superb Jerome, captures the very essence of the piazza. Beautiful!
Very striking Jerome. It seems a lot of 365ers have fond memories of this place and yes, I too was last there 27 years ago. My first visit was 53 years ago and I remember being disappointed that at the top of the tower was a kiosk selling tourist tat... I hope it's no longer there.
@vignouse Thank you, Richard, for your kind attention!
Tourists tat - we can find it in any place that tourists can visit. It would not exist if it were not bought by the same tourists.
Is it not often so: What we are looking for and what we are fleeing, we find in the same place. How beautiful always is the genuine, authentic, honest, pure,...
@dkay Beautiful - 4 years you lived in Italy. So you know the country very much better than I do. Certainly these are the experiences of decisive importance. You're lucky.
Wow.. such a stunning image.. i am so overawed with the feeling of space and light.. a 9 shot stitch?? i am really impressed with your processing.. the architecture is above beautiful and you do it proud..
This is one of the best photos of I've seen of this place!!! (And there have been many taken... I've even taken a few way back when.) Amazing work you have here in 365 Jerome.
Thank you all for your so nice comments!
Venice is a magical city. A celebration for every photographer. But you can also just enjoy it.
stitch with 9 single photos
Tourists tat - we can find it in any place that tourists can visit. It would not exist if it were not bought by the same tourists.
Is it not often so: What we are looking for and what we are fleeing, we find in the same place. How beautiful always is the genuine, authentic, honest, pure,...
Yes, I used a tripod for this shot. It is a stitch of nine single photos.