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Basilica di San Marco, Venice

4.7
#2 of 72 in Historic Sites in Venice
Architectural Building Church Must See
Renowned worldwide for its priceless treasures, Basilica di San Marco is one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in Italy. Originally a private chapel for the doges, the city's chief magistrates, this building has been a cathedral only since 1807. Because of its opulent design, gold dome mosaics, and its status as a symbol of the city's wealth and power, the cathedral has been nicknamed the Church of Gold since the 11th century. The interior is based on a Greek cross, with iconic Byzantine onion-bulb domes and Egyptian marble walls. Behind the main altar, containing the sarcophagus of St. Mark, an altarpiece is adorned with hundreds of emeralds, sapphires, rubies, pearls, and amethysts. The front of the building is rippled with five niched portals, each capped with more elaborate mosaics and stone arches. The church also contains a museum, displaying bronze horses brought here in 1204 as part of the loot from Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade. You can enter the church for free, but the museum has an admission fee. Use our Venice trip itinerary planner to visit Basilica di San Marco on your trip to Venice, and learn what else travelers and our writers recommend seeing nearby.
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Basilica di San Marco Tours
Legendary Venice St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $78
Skip The Line: St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace Tours BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $66
St Mark's Basilica After-Hours Tour with Optional Doge's Palace Visit BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $107
Venice Walking Tour plus Skip the Lines Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica Tours BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $95
Venice-in-a-Day Combination Tour Package BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $140
Small Group Venice In a Day with Basilica San Marco and Doges Palace plus Gondola Ride BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $156
Doges Palace and St Mark's Basilica Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $66
Unusual Perspectives of St Mark's Museum and Basilica BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $23
Gondola Ride and St Mark's Basilica Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $62
Welcome to Venice Small Group Walking Tour with Basilica San Marco and Gondola Ride BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $83
Saint Mark's Basilica and Doges Palace Combined Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $71
Skip The Line: St Mark's Basilica Guided Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $29
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Basilica di San Marco Reviews
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21,315 reviews
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5.0
TripAdvisor
  • August 18, 2017
    You have two options. To buy electronic and dugout to enter directly, theoretically has the entrance at a specific time but not told us anything that we entered almost 1wra before, to eat HOURS in an endless queue to enter free. The cost of eisitirioy; 2 500 ...
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  • August 18, 2017
    We visited in August and the temperature was hot and the crowds were huge. I would recommend booking a skip the line tour to avoid the crowds. Everyone must have shoulders and knees covered to enter; ...  more »
  • August 18, 2017
    Basilica di San Marco is the cathedral of Venice at one side of Piazza San Marco. It has a simply amazing facade overlooking the square. Admire the fantastic architecture and intricate ornamentation o...  more »
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  • Breathtaking.
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Save money and avoid tourist crowds by booking your accommodation outside the historical center of Venice. Central Venice is full of picturesque canals and narrow lanes, but it is also extremely noisy and hectic throughout the day and late into the night. You can explore the ancient city's charms at your own pace by staying at a comfortable B&B or small hotel located in the city's residential suburbs. To stay close to the finest beaches and restaurants, check into a hotel on the island of Lido, the city's famous seaside resort.
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