The relationship between the Church and State in Piazza San Marco, Venice is a complex one. The piazza is home to both St. Mark’s Basilica, which was originally built as a private chapel of the Doge (a prominent political position) in 832 AD, and the Campanile di San Marco, or St. Mark’s Bell Tower, which served as a watchtower for the state. As such, it serves as an important symbol of the interplay between religion and politics in Venice at large.
The symbolism behind this interplay is further emphasized by various works of art located throughout Piazza San Marco; most notably statues depicting both religious figures like Saint Mark and political figures like Doge Enrico Dandolo are visible throughout the area. These two aspects come together in notable events that take place within the square itself; for instance, each year on Ascension Day (the fortieth day after Easter Sunday), members of Venetian society gather around St Mark’s basilica to celebrate their city’s patron saint with processions and other festivities.
Then, Piazza San Marco provides an excellent example of how religion and politics can coexist harmoniously within a single space – something that has long been characteristic of Venice as a whole since its founding nearly 1,500 years ago.