At Venice's New Year's Eve celebration, which square is the city's main public gathering place?

At Venice's New Year's Eve celebration, St Mark's Square is the city's main public gathering place.

St Mark's Square, or Piazza San Marco, is Venice's principal public square and a traditional setting for major civic celebrations. New Year's Eve events there have included concerts, fireworks, and the midnight “Love” celebration, in which couples gather for a communal kiss.

The square is surrounded by landmarks including St Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, and the Campanile. Because Venice is built on a lagoon and is vulnerable to high water known as acqua alta, large events require practical planning around weather and water conditions. St Mark's Square is sometimes called “the drawing room of Europe,” a phrase associated with Napoleon, but that nickname does not mean it is a covered indoor hall. Its Italian name, Piazza San Marco, refers to Saint Mark.