San Marco is the political and spiritual heart of Venice, the sestiere where the Doge ruled and where the Republic declared its power to the world. Piazza San Marco, the only square in Venice to carry the title "piazza" (all others are called "campo"), anchors the district with its iconic trio of the Basilica, the Campanile, and the Doge's Palace. The neighborhood radiates outward from the square through a maze of narrow calli and sotoporteghi, past luxury boutiques on the Mercerie shopping street, over the Bridge of Sighs, and along the waterfront Riva degli Schiavoni. While it is the most visited sestiere in Venice, stepping just a few streets off the main tourist arteries reveals quiet corners with local bakeries, hidden campi, and residential courtyards. San Marco is best explored early in the morning or in the evening, when the day-trippers have left and the piazza empties enough to hear the orchestras playing at the historic cafes.