Strolling through the old, winding streets of Venice at some point you will find yourself on one of the city’s numerous squares, called campi in Italian, for they started out as grassy fields (campo means 'field'). Most smaller campi are known to hold daily markets, which have become an attraction in their own right. Piazza San Marco, the only piazza in Venice, is one of the most magnificent squares in the world, comprising a remarkable ensemble of architectural buildings. Campo San Polo, Campo Santa Margherita, Campo Santo Stefano and Campo dei Santo Giovanni e Paolo attract nearly as many visitors with their sights and unique atmosphere. Almost always located in front of a church and therefore paved, they are lively meeting places extremely valued by Venetians, young and older ones.
Piazza San Marco
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Piazza San Marco is dominated at its eastern end by the great church of St Mark. It will be described by a perambulation starting from the west front of the church (facing the length of the Piazza) and proceeding to the right. The church is described elsewhere but there are aspects of it which are so much a part of the Piazza that they must be mentioned here, including the whole of the west facade with its great arches and marble decoration
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Piazzetta di San Marco
The
Piazzetta di San Marco is not part of the Piazza but an adjoining open space connecting the south side of the Piazza to the waterway of the lagoon. The Piazzetta lies between the Doge's Palace on the east and Jacopo Sansovino's Libreria which holds the Biblioteca Marciana on the west. Starting our perambulation at the corner near the campanile, where we left the Piazza, this side is occupied entirely by the Biblioteca Marciana
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Campo dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo
The
Campo dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo is among the most attractive squares in Venice, as far as architecture and monuments are concerned. It comes as no surprise that the spot was nicknamed Campo delle Maravege, or 'Square of Marvels'. The most impressive building dominating the campo is the Roman Catholic church, dedicated to Saint Giovanni and Saint Paolo. The majestic temple was constructed during the 13th and 14th Centuries.
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Campo Santo Stefano
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Campo San Stefano is located in the Sestiere of San Marco and is one of the largest places in Venice. It is bordered by the homonymous gothic church with remnants of gothic frescoes. Apart from a fine late gothic portal on the Campiello San Stefano, the church features a singular wooden ship's keel roof and several baroque altars.
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Campo Santa Margherita
The
Campo Santa Margherita ranks among one of the favourite recreational areas of both locals and visitors. This wide green area occupies part of the predominantly residential Venetian district Dorsoduro. Massive oaks, thick shrubs, romantic ponds and a striking variety of trees and beautiful flowers enchant visitors and make Campo Santa Margerita the perfect place for a family picnic.
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Campo San Polo
The
Campo San Polo is the largest campo in Venice, the second largest Venetian public square after the Piazza San Marco. Originally dedicated to grazing and agriculture, in 1493 it was entirely paved, a well (one of the few fountains to be found in Venice) being placed in the middle. It was subsequently used as the scene of many a bullfight, mass sermons and masked balls. After the 17th century the poor's market was moved here.
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Campo San Luca
Campo San Moisè
Campo San Zaccaria
Campo Santa Maria Formosa
