Piazza San Marco, Venice

Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Square), is the principal square of Venice, Italy. Alfred de Musset calls the Piazza San Marco "The drawing room of Europe". It is one of the few urban spaces in Europe where human voices prevail over the sounds of motorized traffic, which is confined to Venice's waterways. It is the only urban space called a "piazza" in Venice; the others, regardless of size, are called campi. The Piazza originated in the 9th century as a small area in front of the original St Mark's Basilica. The Piazza has always been seen as the centre of Venice. It was the location of all the important offices of the Venetian state and it was also the focus for many of Venice's festivals.Feeding pigeons at the PiazzaFull of tourists and pigeons onlyPhotographers have a full timeAmong the crowds, a Malaysian turning ItalianShe's got the style to be an ItalianStrolling along hand in hand after shoppingWhile the father and children wait