Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica), Venice (must see)
By far, the main draw for tourists visiting Venice is Saint Mark's Basilica. Its construction dates back to 832 AD when it was built to house the remains of Saint Mark, the city's patron saint. Legend has it that the holy man's body was brought from Alexandria, Egypt, hidden in barrels of pork meat, which the Venetian merchants believed the Muslim guards would never touch. Upon arrival in the lagoon, Saint Mark was said to be greeted by an angel who proclaimed that his body would find rest in that place. This legend has inspired numerous works of art throughout the centuries.
Two hundred years later, a magnificent temple was erected on the foundations of an earlier church and consecrated when Saint Mark's body was laid to rest beneath the high altar. The new basilica was designed after the renowned Church of the Apostles in Constantinople. To enhance its splendor, the structure was adorned with marble and mosaics depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments, as well as the lives of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Mark himself.
Over time, many of the mosaics were retouched or replaced as artistic tastes evolved and damaged mosaics needed restoration. As a result, the current mosaics represent a span of 800 years of artistic styles. Some mosaics reflect traditional Byzantine representations and stand as masterpieces of medieval art, while others were based on preparatory drawings by renowned Renaissance artists from Venice and Florence, such as Paolo Veronese, Tintoretto, Titian, Paolo Uccello, and Andrea del Castagno.
Andrea del Castagno, active at San Marco in the mid-15th century, introduced a sense of perspective largely achieved with architectural settings. One of his notable contributions is the mosaic in the Mascoli Chapel, depicting the "Dormition of the Virgin". Tintoretto, on the other hand, created the mosaic in the central nave depicting the "Presentation of Jesus at the Temple" in the 16th century, while Titian designed and executed the mosaic decoration of the Sacristy vault between 1524 and 1530, depicting Old Testament prophets.
Inside the basilica, there are additional spots that can be visited for a separate fee, including the Golden Altar, the Museum, the Treasury, and the Crypt. It is highly recommended to pay for access to the first level, offering elevated views of the interior and the square outside. Alternatively, consider taking a night tour when the basilica is closed to the public, allowing you to have the entire place to yourself.
Entry to the basilica is free, but for a small fee, you can skip the line and book a time slot.
Why You Should Visit:
To witness the exceptional blend of Byzantine and Western art, showcased through the grandeur of the mosaics and the richness of the 'treasure room', offering insights into the immense power and wealth of Venice during its golden era.
Tip:
The best time to visit is around midday when the golden mosaics adorning the vaults, walls, and cupolas are illuminated and at their most spectacular. The lights are only turned on for a limited time (11:30am-12:30pm), so be sure to plan your visit accordingly to witness and appreciate the mosaics at their best.
Two hundred years later, a magnificent temple was erected on the foundations of an earlier church and consecrated when Saint Mark's body was laid to rest beneath the high altar. The new basilica was designed after the renowned Church of the Apostles in Constantinople. To enhance its splendor, the structure was adorned with marble and mosaics depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments, as well as the lives of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Mark himself.
Over time, many of the mosaics were retouched or replaced as artistic tastes evolved and damaged mosaics needed restoration. As a result, the current mosaics represent a span of 800 years of artistic styles. Some mosaics reflect traditional Byzantine representations and stand as masterpieces of medieval art, while others were based on preparatory drawings by renowned Renaissance artists from Venice and Florence, such as Paolo Veronese, Tintoretto, Titian, Paolo Uccello, and Andrea del Castagno.
Andrea del Castagno, active at San Marco in the mid-15th century, introduced a sense of perspective largely achieved with architectural settings. One of his notable contributions is the mosaic in the Mascoli Chapel, depicting the "Dormition of the Virgin". Tintoretto, on the other hand, created the mosaic in the central nave depicting the "Presentation of Jesus at the Temple" in the 16th century, while Titian designed and executed the mosaic decoration of the Sacristy vault between 1524 and 1530, depicting Old Testament prophets.
Inside the basilica, there are additional spots that can be visited for a separate fee, including the Golden Altar, the Museum, the Treasury, and the Crypt. It is highly recommended to pay for access to the first level, offering elevated views of the interior and the square outside. Alternatively, consider taking a night tour when the basilica is closed to the public, allowing you to have the entire place to yourself.
Entry to the basilica is free, but for a small fee, you can skip the line and book a time slot.
Why You Should Visit:
To witness the exceptional blend of Byzantine and Western art, showcased through the grandeur of the mosaics and the richness of the 'treasure room', offering insights into the immense power and wealth of Venice during its golden era.
Tip:
The best time to visit is around midday when the golden mosaics adorning the vaults, walls, and cupolas are illuminated and at their most spectacular. The lights are only turned on for a limited time (11:30am-12:30pm), so be sure to plan your visit accordingly to witness and appreciate the mosaics at their best.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Venice. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica) on Map
Sight Name: Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica)
Sight Location: Venice, Italy (See walking tours in Venice)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Venice, Italy (See walking tours in Venice)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Venice, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Venice
Creating your own self-guided walk in Venice is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Murano Island Walking Tour
Murano is often called the Glass Island, since it is home to the most impressive and renowned Venetian glass factories. The master craftsmen here have preserved their centuries-old techniques, and the island is full of shops where you can admire and purchase their adorable glass items. Some factories, such as Gino Mazzuccato鈥檚, at the start of this self-guided walk, even have special showrooms... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Venice's Hidden Art Treasures
Among the first things springing to mind when talking about Venice, apart from the canals and gondolas, of course, is Art and Architecture. Indeed, Venice is one of the few cities in the world where Art and Architecture have merged in a stunning multiplicity of forms. The city is even renowned for its unique (Venetian) pictorial school famed by the likes of Tintoretto, Titian, Veronese, Castagno... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Titian's Paintings Walk
One of the greatest painters of all time, Tiziano Vecelli 鈥� better known as Titian 鈥� was a pioneering figure of the Venetian school of Italian Renaissance painting. His career was successful from the start, and he became sought after by patrons, initially from Venice and its possessions, then joined by the north Italian princes, and finally the Habsburgs and papacy.
Equally adept with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Equally adept with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Piazza San Marco Walking Tour
All of Venice鈥檚 roads seem to run into Piazza San Marco 鈥� the commercial, religious, and political heart of the city. With a glowing reputation as one of the finest squares in the world and arguably one of Europe鈥檚 primary tourist attractions, it certainly has a lot to offer to visitors.
Start your exploration with a tour of the pink-and-white marble Palazzo Ducale, which takes you... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles
Start your exploration with a tour of the pink-and-white marble Palazzo Ducale, which takes you... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles
Jewish Ghetto Tour
Founded in 1516, the Jewish Ghetto in Venice was the oldest of its kind in all Europe. At the time, Venice received order from the Pope to expel all Jews from the city, but the Venetian government opted to lock them onto a small island in the district of Cannaregio. Since then this small area has been the center of Jewish life in Venice, with buildings rising vertically to accommodate the rising... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.4 Km or 0.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.4 Km or 0.2 Miles
Dorsoduro Walking Tour
One of the six districts of Venice, Dorsoduro鈥檚 name translates as 鈥渉ard bridge鈥� due to the area's relatively high terrain. Home to some of the city鈥檚 highest spots, it also comprises some of Venice鈥檚 most picturesque canals, historic locations and cultural venues, including the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute; the Gallerie dell鈥� Academia & the Ca鈥� Rezzonico 鈥� both... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
15 Distinctively Italian Things to Buy in Venice
Venice has been a tourist mecca for over a century now, with millions of visitors flocking in every year to see this unique place on the face of the Earth. Many, if not all, of these people seek to obtain something memorable as a token of their stay in this city. By far, not all of them know which...