St Mark's Basilica
St Mark's Basilica, Minor basilica in San Marco, Italy.
The church features five large domes covered with golden mosaics and contains 500 marble columns from eastern Mediterranean regions imported during medieval times.
Construction of the present basilica started in 1063 following Byzantine architectural patterns to represent the increasing influence of the Venetian Republic in Mediterranean trade.
The interior walls display 4240 square meters of medieval gold mosaics depicting religious scenes, created between the 12th and 13th centuries by artisans.
Entry to the basilica requires appropriate clothing covering shoulders and knees, while photography remains prohibited inside the building at all times.
The basilica contains the Pala d'Oro, a golden altarpiece decorated with 2000 gems and considered among the most refined examples of Byzantine craftsmanship.
Location: Municipality 1 Venezia-Murano-Burano
Inception: 828
Architects: Domenico I Contarini
Architectural style: Romanesque architecture, Byzantine architecture
Length: 76.5 m
Width: 62.5 m
Address: P.za San Marco, 328, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy 30124 Venezia
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 09:30-17:15; Sunday 14:00-17:15
Phone: +390412708311
Website: http://basilicasanmarco.it
GPS coordinates: 45.43444,12.33972
Latest update: July 25, 2025 07:47
The mosaics display artistic and historical elements from antiquity to modern times. Roman floor mosaics, Byzantine wall pieces and Islamic geometric patterns document religious and cultural developments. The works are located in churches, mosques, palaces and public spaces.
Venice offers multiple photo opportunities. The Rialto spans the Grand Canal while houses in Burano display different colors. St Mark's Square presents the Byzantine basilica, campanile and Doge's Palace. The Bridge of Sighs connects the palace to the prison. The islands of Murano and Torcello feature glasswork and historical monuments.
Italy presents architecture from two millennia, from Roman temples to Renaissance museums. The country features volcanic zones near Naples, stone dwellings in Matera, and canals in Venice. Religious structures include St. Mark's Basilica, while art museums display Renaissance collections.
Venice is naturally suited for romantic getaways, with its winding canals, historic palaces, and squares full of history. This selection gathers places that make the city so popular among couples: Saint Mark's Square with its basilica and campanile, the Bridge of Sighs where tradition invites you to kiss in a gondola, or the quays of Fondamenta delle Zattere stretching along the Giudecca Canal. The Grand Canal, the main artery measuring 3.8 kilometers long, reveals 170 palaces built between the 13th and 18th centuries. This collection also includes characterful accommodations set within authentic Venetian residences. The Gritti Palace occupies a 15th-century palace overlooking the Grand Canal, while Ca' Bonfadini features its frescoed salons in the Cannaregio district. To extend your stay, the La Fenice Theatre offers opera performances in a restored 18th-century setting after the 1996 fire. San Giorgio Maggiore island, accessible by vaporetto, allows you to view the city from its campanile with an unobstructed perspective over the urban area.
Piazza San Marco
143 m
Bridge of Sighs
99 m
Horses of Saint Mark
28 m
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana
131 m
Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs
24 m
Doge's Palace
98 m
St Mark's Clocktower
72 m
Columns of San Marco and San Teodoro
125 m
St Mark's Clock
76 m
Loggetta
61 m
Treasury of San Marco
0 m
Ponte della Paglia
140 m
San Basso
69 m
Chiesa di San Teodoro
76 m
Museo diocesano d'arte sacra Sant'Apollonia
89 m
Porta della Carta
37 m
Palazzo Patriarcale
63 m
Palazzo Trevisan Cappello
109 m
Museo dell'Opera
91 m
Ponte de la Canonica
86 m
Palazzo delle Prigioni
147 m
Sala del Maggior Consiglio - Palazzo Ducale
111 m
Column of San Marco
122 m
Ponte de l'Anzolo
150 m
Ponte dei Dai
150 m
Ponte Capello
105 m
Lion of Venice, Piazzetta San Marco
122 m
Ponte dei Consorzi
119 mReviews
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