St. Mark`s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) is the main cathedral of Venice, one of the most magnificent churches in Europe, and perhaps the most striking monument of Byzantine art outside Istanbul. It rises on the eastern side of St. Mark`s Square, next to the Doge`s Palace, and for centuries served as the private chapel of the Venetian doges, rather than an ordinary parish church.
The basilica was built to house the relics of the Evangelist Mark, who is considered the patron saint of Venice, and its architecture combines Byzantine, Islamic, and Western European features. Because of its golden decoration and mosaics, it is called the "Golden Church" (Chiesa d`Oro).
What Was on This Site: The Transfer of the Relics of St. Mark
The history of the basilica begins not with the building itself, but with the event that gave rise to it. According to tradition, the Evangelist Mark preached in Alexandria in Egypt and suffered a martyr`s death there around the year 68. His relics were kept in Alexandria, but in the 9th century, when the city came under Muslim rule, two Venetian merchants — Buono of Malamocco and Rustico of Torcello — secretly transported them to Venice. To avoid customs inspection, the relics were hidden in a basket under a layer of pork, which the Muslim guards did not check.
The relics arrived in Venice in 828, and this event became a turning point in the history of the city: Doge Giustiniano Partecipazio ordered the construction of a majestic church to house them. The first basilica was built in 829–832, but in 976 it was seriously damaged by fire. The modern building was begun around 1063 under Doge Domenico Contarini and consecrated in 1094. Since then, the basilica has been repeatedly expanded and decorated, but its foundation has remained unchanged.
The History of the Construction of St. Mark`s Basilica
St. Mark`s Basilica was built in several stages. The core of the present building dates back to the 11th century — it was constructed on the model of the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople, which the Venetians knew thanks to their trade ties with Byzantium. In the 13th century, after the sack of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade (1204), Venice brought back from there many precious objects, including the quadriga — the bronze horses that were installed on the façade of the basilica.
In the following centuries, the basilica was enriched with new elements: in the 14th–15th centuries, Gothic pointed arches and sculptures appeared, and in the 17th century, Renaissance balustrades and decorative details. In 1807, under Napoleon, the basilica was transformed from the private chapel of the doges into the cathedral of Venice, and since then this has been its official status.
Architecture and Dimensions of St. Mark`s Basilica
St. Mark`s Basilica is an outstanding example of Byzantine architecture with elements of Gothic and Renaissance. Its plan is a Greek cross with five domes, crowned with lanterns and crosses. The five domes symbolize the presence of Christ and the four evangelists. The height of the basilica with its domes reaches about 43 meters, and its total length exceeds 76 meters.
The façade of the basilica, facing the square, impresses with the richness of its decoration. Its width is about 51.8 meters. It is divided into two parts: the lower with five portals and the upper with arches and mosaics. Above the central portal is the famous mosaic "Christ Pantocrator," and nearby are scenes from the life of St. Mark. The façade is decorated with 13 statues and numerous marble columns brought from various corners of the Mediterranean.
The Domes of St. Mark`s Basilica
The five domes of the basilica are its main architectural and engineering pride. They have a bulbous shape characteristic of the Byzantine tradition and are covered with lead sheets. Each dome is crowned with a lantern and a cross. The diameter of the central dome is about 12 meters, and the height from the floor to the top of the cross is about 43 meters.
The domes rest on massive pillars and vaults, creating a sense of lightness and spaciousness. The inner surface of the domes is covered with mosaics illustrating scenes from the Old and New Testaments: the creation of the world, the flood, the life of Christ, the descent of the Holy Spirit. These mosaics were created over several centuries — from the 11th to the 14th century — and are one of the main treasures of the basilica.
The Quadriga from Constantinople
One of the most famous sculptures of St. Mark`s Basilica is the bronze quadriga, the four horses, which once adorned the hippodrome of Constantinople. In 1204, during the Fourth Crusade, the Venetians brought it from the Byzantine capital as war booty and soon installed it on the loggia above the main portal of St. Mark`s Basilica. The sculptures remained there for almost six centuries, until in 1797 Napoleon took them to Paris. In 1815, the horses returned to Venice and took their former place on the façade.
According to modern research, the quadriga was most likely created in Ancient Rome during the imperial period, and not in Greece, as was previously believed. Today most scholars incline to the view that the horses were cast in the Roman Empire around the 2nd or 3rd century AD. This dating is confirmed, in particular, by the data of radiocarbon analysis carried out in the museum of St. Mark, which pointed to the beginning of the 2nd century. Previously, there was a popular hypothesis attributing the authorship to the famous Greek sculptor Lysippus, the court master of Alexander the Great, but at present this attribution is considered unlikely and is generally rejected by specialists.
In the late 1970s — early 1980s, due to growing air pollution, the originals were removed from the façade and transferred inside the basilica for preservation. Today, exact bronze copies stand in the loggia above the portal, while the originals are displayed in the museum of St. Mark inside the basilica. The quadriga is considered the only surviving example of ancient sculpture of such scale, cast using the "lost wax" technique.
Byzantine Mosaics in St. Mark`s Basilica
The mosaics are what gave the basilica the name "Golden Church." The total area of the mosaic decoration exceeds 8,000 square meters, and almost all of them are covered with gold leaf. The golden background creates the effect that the interior of the church is flooded with light — this is not just decoration, but a deliberate theological and aesthetic design: gold symbolizes divine light and the Heavenly Jerusalem.
The mosaics were created over several centuries, beginning in the 11th century. The masters used glass smalt, which was covered with a thinnest layer of gold and fired, after which each piece was set at a certain angle to reflect light and make the surface "burn." The oldest mosaics are in the narthex (the vestibule) and depict scenes from the Old Testament. In the central dome is the Ascension of Christ, and near the main entrance — the apostles with the Madonna.
The central place is occupied by the main altar with the Pala d`Oro — the golden altarpiece, created in the 10th–12th centuries. This is one of the most valuable objects of the basilica: it is decorated with more than 2,000 precious stones and enamel miniatures. The Pala d`Oro is considered a masterpiece of Byzantine jewelry art.
Climbing the Dome and the Observation Deck
St. Mark`s Basilica offers visitors a climb to the observation deck, from which a panoramic view of St. Mark`s Square, the Doge`s Palace, and the Venetian Lagoon opens up. The climb is possible via a spiral staircase (about 150 steps) or by elevator. From the deck, one can also see the internal structure of the domes and the mosaics from above.
The climb requires physical effort, but the view is worth it: from the height, one of the best panoramas of Venice opens up. It is recommended to come early in the morning or closer to evening to avoid queues and heat.
Practical Information
• Address: Piazza San Marco, 328, Venezia.
• Getting there: vaporetto (water bus) to the stop San Marco — Vallaresso or San Zaccaria; on foot from the Rialto Bridge or St. Mark`s Square.
• Opening hours: the basilica is open daily from 9:30 to 17:00 (in summer until 17:30). On Sundays and holidays, there may be restrictions in the morning due to services. The observation deck operates from 9:45 to 16:45.
• Tickets: admission to the basilica — about 3 euros; climbing to the observation deck — about 5 euros; visiting the Pala d`Oro and the treasury — separate tickets. Children under 6 — free.
• Tips: dress modestly — shoulders and knees must be covered; come early in the morning to avoid queues; do not forget about climbing to the observation deck — it is one of the best panoramas of Venice; wear comfortable shoes.
St. Mark`s Basilica is a symbol of Venice and its centuries-long history. From the transfer of the relics of the Evangelist Mark to the dazzling mosaics and the golden altar — here every stone remembers the greatness of the republic. The basilica is worth spending several hours in, and then climbing to the observation deck and seeing Venice from a height from which the whole city and the lagoon open up.
