Venice Attractions
Description
Venue: Basilica di San Marco When: Daily
The Basilica di San Marco was built to house the body of St Mark the Evangelist, stolen in 828 AD from Alexandria in Egypt and brought back to the Doge Giustiniano Participazio, who decided to erect a building worthy of that audacious feat.
The Basilica is a superb example of the Romanesque-Byzantine style. The facade features five portals decorated in splendid marbles and mosaics, with a terrace dividing it into two halves. On the terrace stand Four Horses of gilded copper (copies - the originals are now preserved inside) that were sent from Constantinople to Doge Enrico Dandolo in 1204.
The imposing interior (in the form of a Greek cross) contains a wealth of paintings and sculptures. Of particular interest are the mosaics of Veneto-Byzantine, some of them reconstructed from drawings by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. St Mark's body is contained in a sarcophagus beneath the altar, and don't miss the gold, enamel and jewel-encrusted altarpiece, Pala d'Oro, situated right behind the altar.
The Bell Tower adjacent to the basilica was once a lighthouse for ships and now offers the best aerial views of Venice.
The Basilica di San Marco was built to house the body of St Mark the Evangelist, stolen in 828 AD from Alexandria in Egypt and brought back to the Doge Giustiniano Participazio, who decided to erect a building worthy of that audacious feat.
The Basilica is a superb example of the Romanesque-Byzantine style. The facade features five portals decorated in splendid marbles and mosaics, with a terrace dividing it into two halves. On the terrace stand Four Horses of gilded copper (copies - the originals are now preserved inside) that were sent from Constantinople to Doge Enrico Dandolo in 1204.
The imposing interior (in the form of a Greek cross) contains a wealth of paintings and sculptures. Of particular interest are the mosaics of Veneto-Byzantine, some of them reconstructed from drawings by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. St Mark's body is contained in a sarcophagus beneath the altar, and don't miss the gold, enamel and jewel-encrusted altarpiece, Pala d'Oro, situated right behind the altar.
The Bell Tower adjacent to the basilica was once a lighthouse for ships and now offers the best aerial views of Venice.
Venice Information
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Looking for things to do around Venice? Here are some of the events and attractions happening in the area.
| International Festival of Contemporary Music |
2 - 18 Oct 2008 (annual) Teatro Alle Tese, Venice |
| The Festival of La Salute |
Nov 2008 (annual) Basilica Santa Maria della Salute, Venice |
| Feast of Good Health |
21 Nov 2008 (annual) Chiesa della Salute, Venice |
| Venice Marathon |
26 Oct 2008 (annual) Piazza Marconi, Venice |
| Gioco dell'Oca |
8 - 9 Nov 2008 (annual) Mirano |
| Architecture Biennale of Venice: Out There. Architecture Beyond Building |
14 Sep - 23 Nov 2008 (biennial) Venice |
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