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Basilica di San Marco, Venice

4.4

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 $64

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

32 reviews

Duration: 60 minutes

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St. Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Guided Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $29

5 reviews

Duration: 60 minutes

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Basilica di San Marco Reviews

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By Monty M

We were on a family trip to Venice, a few days before the catastrophic storms that engulfed the city, but the square was still flooded. It was chaos getting in to the basilica, those with bag were tur... more »
By Departure12185268442

magnifique basilique. L'entrée y est gratuite et la queue trèèèès longue. Nous avons fait le choix de prendre des billets coupe file (3€ par personne). Je ne mets pas 5* car je regrette qu'une fois à ... more »

magnificent Basilica. Admission is free and the long tail veeeeeery. We made the choice to take tickets Cup leader (3 per person). I am not 5 * because I regret once inside it should pay to see the treasures of St Marc as well as Palace of oro

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By BKCUBA

Very crowded as expected. Very grande. Worth the trip to see. But head into the small side streets and get lost in Venice. Thats what we did and loved it. Actually we never got lost once. LOL more »

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