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Basilica di San Marco, Venice

4.4
#3 of 192 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. Put Basilica di San Marco at the forefront of your travel plans using our Venice visit planning site .
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Basilica di San Marco Tours
Skip The Line: St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace Tours BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $65
4.5
414 reviews
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes
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Skip the Line St. Mark's Basilica Guided Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $29
3.5
32 reviews
Duration: 60 minutes
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St. Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Guided Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $29
4.0
5 reviews
Duration: 60 minutes
Buy tours from $29
Basilica di San Marco Reviews
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5
25,993 reviews
TripAdvisor
  • By Нина Л
    Stunning ... the forgotten ... secret and abandoned St Mark's Cathedral is not very hospitable to holdnoe time of the year. History, too, need to look at circumstances where weather conditions-cold, chill chases you out of halls and expositions ... not for winter! I'll return when it will be warm and. ..
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  • By ayaz_bugra
    Perfect ambiance. Night light. But still the myth. .. Venice and St. Mark's. Great, I'd suggest ...
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  • By that_travelin_stone
    Beautiful view of it at the square with the opportunity to be surrounded by so many pigeons around that I felt like Cinderella for a moment!  more »
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