Piazzetta San Marco:

The Piazzetta San Marco was the state entrance to La Serenissima. It's one of the lowest areas of Venice and so is one of the first areas to be flooded during acqua alte.

The winged lion of St Mark with St Mark's Campanile, the Libreria Sansoviniana and the Basilica di San Marco.

Public executions were held between the two columns - after death, the quartered bodies were displayed around the city as a macabre warning to others.

St Theodore - the original patron saint of Venice - standing on top of a crocodile. His column is 12th century red and grey granite.

In the Book of Revelation, St Mark is symbolised as a winged lion - imagery embraced by La Serenissima Repubblica.