Basilica di San Marco, Venice


	Basilica di San Marco In 829, the remains of St. Mark the Apostle were shipped from Alexandria to Venice, and soon thereafter work began on the basilica. The current structure, with its domes and arches, has its beginnings in the latter part of the 11th century—Venetians wanted the cathedral of their patron saint to reflect the wealth and power of their state. The façade of St. Mark's is a synthesis of Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic elements; a dividing gallery in the center displays four bronze horses of 4th-century Greek origin. Everywhere there are marble columns, sculptures of sacred personages, and mosaics (500 square meters of them), all unified according to a complex iconographical plan. Spend some time, too, looking at the gem-encrusted Pala d'Oro (Golden Altarpiece) in the presbytery, which took centuries to complete and shows the Byzantine influence on a uniquely Venetian work. The Treasury has a sumptuous collection of vases, reliquaries and liturgical items, jewelry and other hand-crafted objets d'art. Address: Piazza San Marco Venice Italy Telephone: +39 (41) 522-5205