Excavations at St. Mark’s Square Reveal Traces of Medieval Venice

Excavations at St. Mark’s Square: main discoveries

As part of ongoing restoration of the paving in St. Mark’s Square, a small excavation area has exposed structures and finds dating to the early and high Middle Ages. Archaeologists have documented paving layers, stone foundations, brick walls and several small artefacts that still require precise dating.

Finds and structural evidence

• Architectural remains: brick walls and stone foundations that may belong to interior or exterior parts of an ancient religious building.
• Paving layers: superimposed pavements useful for identifying different construction phases of the square.
• Market-related features: holes in brickwork likely used to anchor poles for market tents and stalls.
• Small finds: a coin and a scale weight, indicators of the area’s commercial activity.
• Burials: earlier burial discoveries nearby helped suggest the presence of the first San Geminiano church.

Approach and historical reconstruction

The investigation combines historical map overlays (including an 1892 map), targeted excavations and non-invasive surveys such as ground-penetrating radar. A micro-site organisation agreed with the municipal administration allowed prioritised interventions and more efficient archaeological work within the larger restoration project.

Significance

These findings provide tangible data to reconstruct the evolution of St. Mark’s Square — from medieval buildings and churches to the urban transformations of the 14th–16th centuries when canals were filled and the square reshaped. Combined with further surveys, the evidence will contribute to a fuller picture of Venice’s historic centre before modern alterations.

Practical notes

• The excavation area will be temporarily closed to allow institutional events (including a papal visit), after which fieldwork is expected to resume in planned zones.
• Final dating and scientific analyses of the finds are still in progress; results will be published by the competent archaeological authority.
• For updates on public access, exhibitions or guided information related to the excavations contact the local Superintendence or the City of Venice offices.

Summary: the restoration works in St. Mark’s Square are not only preserving historical paving but are also revealing stratified archaeological evidence that can significantly enhance our understanding of medieval Venice.