The Colonna di San Todaro stands as one of two granite pillars near the edge of the Saint Mark Basin, topped by a statue of a crocodile-riding warrior. Theodore of Amasea, the city's original patron, holds a spear and stands atop a…
Venice Stone Lions and Beasts
This walking route leads you on a visual treasure hunt to find the carved animals, mythical monsters, and symbolic lions decorating Venice's walls. You will learn the civic legends and quirky folklore hidden in medieval stonework as you explore.
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1. Colonna di San Todaro
2. Carta Gate
The Porta della Carta serves as the main ceremonial entrance to the Doge's Palace. It features a towering gothic archway encrusted with intricate stone carvings, including a statue of Doge Francesco Foscari kneeling before the winged lion…
3. Piazzetta dei Leoncini
Two white marble lions crouch at the center of the Piazzetta dei Leoncini, facing the north side of Saint Mark’s Basilica. Sculpted by Giovanni Bonazza in seventeen twenty-two, they replaced earlier versions that had stood here for…
4. Pozzo Santa Maria Formosa
A circular stone wellhead sits in the middle of the Campo Santa Maria Formosa. Two winged lions carved in high relief occupy opposite sides of the stone rim, their paws resting firmly on the marble. While the lion of Saint Mark usually…
5. Scuola Grande di San Marco
The Scuola Grande di San Marco features a facade covered in trompe l'oeil marble panels that appear to recede into the wall. This building served as the headquarters for one of the city's wealthiest lay confraternities, which used its…
6. Corte Seconda del Milion
The Corte Seconda del Milion features a stone archway embedded with weathered paterae, circular carvings depicting Byzantine motifs. This quiet courtyard hides in plain sight, tucked behind the Teatro Malibran. It marks the former site of…