The Cursed Columns at St. Mark’s Square

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At St. Mark’s Square in Venice there are two columns placed. And if you believe old folklore you can’t pass between them, or you’ll be cursed.

The two columns at St. Marco Square, or locally known as: Colonna di San Todaro, is wonderful to look at and one of the main places tourists visit as they wander around in the city between the majestic Doge Palace and the famous bell tower.

However, the origin of these columns is not a happy one as they are a reminder of what war nation Venice once was. They were transported to Venice in the 1100s after the Venetians sacked the city of Constantinople.

There were originally 3 of them, but the last one sank into the sea on the voyage. They even hired a special sea master to look for the third one for almost 20 years, but the column was forever swallowed somewhere in the Venetian lagoon.

The 2 remaining ones were put on the square by a man named Niccolo Barattieri. For a long time this was the only place where you were allowed to gamble in the city, which was strictly forbidden, because that was what Barattieri wanted as thanks for putting up the two remaining columns safely.

It was then later used as a place for executions. Between the two columns the thieves, enemies of the Republic, murderers, heretics and others were parade before being executed as a spectacle for the entire city.

Because of this the columns are considered cursed because of all of the people that died between them. And according to legend, you can be too if you pass between them.