Can you make reservations for St Mark's after you get there?

Hi, We were there Thursday. Anyone with a backpack is denied entry. You must check your bag and they tell you only 1 hour, so do what rick says check your bag, before you line up. Go in on the right, they will let you in with your tag, go to the right up the stairs,pay the 5€ at the top and wait until the lights come on. Just expect plenty of people. Regards

Not sure about making reservations to go into St. Mark's Basilica prior but to avoid the long lines, see Rick Steves book regarding checking your bag at the baggage drop off, then getting a ticket that allows you to walk right into the Basilica and avoid the long line outside the church.

Checking your bag to avoid the line does work. However, I think they are wise to Rick's advertising this trick. Last time I was there, I filled a large tote bag with dirty laundry (to do later) and they almost didn't let me check it as they said it was light enough for me to carry. The woman said it was really just for checking backpacks. They ending up relenting, but that might have been because of my age.

But backpacks aren't allowed into St Marks, no matter how light they are...

Thanks for the responses. I do know about Rick's bag tip. I anticipate wanting more than an hour in the church and museum so I don't want to go that route.

We spent well over an hour and, miraculously, our bags were still there when we came out. :)

I think they say one-hour only because they have very limited storage space. I don't remember them tagging my bag with the time. Maybe that's why they are also only taking backpacks now. When I was there 3-4 years ago, they weren't letting anyone in with a shopping bag or tote and there was no "time limit." 2 years ago during Carnevale, there was a 2-hour limit, which I went over by about an hour - no repercussions.

I don't recall an hour being too short of a time to visit, its not that big.. especially after you have seen places like St Peters and Notre Dame, , it seems pretty small..
We used the bag trick a few years ago, worked fine.. and if you were an hour and 15 minutes I don't think they would throw out your bag.. I think the time limit is just so people don't think they can check their larger bags and sightsee all day leaving their bags there( say they had a later flight or something) . Does anyone feel guilty using that trick. We did it but I did feel a twinge of guilt,, but frankly we spent only 15-20 minutes in there so was pleased in a way , would hate to wait an hour for that..

Just a warning that the bag trick doesn't always work. We weren't allowed to check a messenger bag last summer; they said they would only take backpacks and very large bags. Luckily, the line wasn't very long when we were there.

Thanks to those who took the time to respond.