St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark's Basilica — the Basilica di San Marco — is the patriarchal cathedral of Venice and one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in the world, built to house the relics of Saint Mark brought from Alexandria in 828 AD. The building's Greek-cross plan supports five domes visible from the exterior, each decorated in the Byzantine tradition with lead sheeting. The interior covers 4,000 square metres of floor and wall surface with golden mosaics depicting Old and New Testament scenes, accumulated over six centuries from the 11th to the 17th, which give the basilica its local name La Chiesa d'Oro — the Golden Church. The Pala d'Oro, the golden altarpiece behind the main altar, is encrusted with 1,927 precious and semi-precious stones arranged around 250 enamel panels depicting saints and biblical scenes. Visitors move through the nave under the mosaics, then can ascend to the loggia terrace level — accessible via a steep internal staircase — for views over Piazza San Marco and close-up examination of the horses and mosaics. The four bronze horses displayed inside the museum (with replicas on the terrace) were looted from Constantinople in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade. Separate admission applies to the Pala d'Oro altarpiece and the museum/terrace. The basilica requires modest dress — shoulders and knees covered — and no large bags. Free entry to the nave is available, but queues during peak season stretch around the square. Pre-registered free tickets are available online to avoid the queue.