Built originally as a mausoleum to protect the grave of Saint Mark, Patron Saint of Venice, the small church, twice rebuilt to the present times witnessed almost the whole history of the city.
The power of Medieval trade has changed the private chapel near Dodge’s Palace into the main church of the Republic, where the doge’s were elected, where numerous kings, popes and ambassadors were received. The religious importance has been crowned with the Cathedral title received by the basilica in 1807. Through the centuries the basilica received numerous gifts and donations turned into the architectonic details adorning both the interior and the facade of the building.
The main construction has been shaped in the 12th century, when the city remained its Byzantine connections, and so the Eastern influence is clearly visible through the later Gothic western-style additions. The church has been built on a Greek cross plan and crowned with five huge domes, enlarged in following centuries, but still there are the original mosaics on the vaultings preserved. The most spectacular are inside the Pentecost Dome ( 12th century ) and the Ascension Dome ( Christ in Glory from 13th century).
The whole interior of the church is glittered with gold and precious materials, aimed to impress the new visitors, who would feel their vanity in the presence of ethernal splendour.
The mosaics adorn not only the vaultings but also the walls and pavements, are the best solution to comprehend them is to pay several visits to the Basilica during different times of a day.
The earliest from over 4 000 sq m of mosaics are from 12th century and made by eastern artists. Next centuries bring the works of local craftsmen, who at the beginning simply follow oriental style, to copy the cartoons designed by Tintoretto, Titian and Veronese in the 16th century.
The most valuable treasure of San Marco is Pala d’Oro, the altarpiece commissioned in Byzantium in 976. There are 250 enamel paintings on golden foil, which get many of embroiderings in following centuries, including Gothic silver frame and hundreds of pearls, rubies, sapphires and other precious stones.
To see is also the Treasury with a precious collection of Byzantine and Italian silver, gold and glass work, and Museo Marciano, with the gallery leading to the exterior loggia, once used by the dignitaries to look at the crowd down at the Piazza San Marco.
Basilica San Marco
Piazza San Marco
Venice,Italy
phone: 041 5225205
Opening hours:
Mon-Sat 9.30 -17.00 (IV-IX ) 10.00 – 16.00 ( X -III )
Sun 14.00-16.00
the visit is limited during the mass services
[ photo courtesy of Sebastià Giralt]
Guides: venice
