While most tourists in Venice flock to St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco), there is an equally beautiful (albeit smaller) piazza right next door – the Piazzetta San Marco (or “little St. Mark’s Square”). The Piazzetta is an open space positioned to the south of the main square and reachies all the way to the lagoon. The Doge’s Palace, beginning with the Porta della Carta, is located on the eastern side of the Piazzetta, while Sansavino’s beautiful library lies to the west. Two free-standing granite columns punctuate the Piazzetta and are surmounted by St. Theodore (the former patron saint of Venice before Mark) and the winged lion which is the symbol of this magical city. Buona visita!