St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Cathedral (Basilica di San Marco) is among the most famous temples of Venice, a unique city in Italy, located on 118 islands. If you want to see a piece of ancient Byzantium in modern Europe, there is no better site. The Basilica of San Marco is a classic example of Byzantine architecture not only on the Old Continent, but all over the world. The iconic structure, impressive in its splendor and luxury, is located on the square of the same name and adjoins the Gothic Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) – the residence of the rulers of the Venetian Republic during the Middle Ages. The basilica was originally its chapel, gaining “independence” only when it became the residence of the Patriarch of Venice. It houses antique art objects that have no price. In 1987, UNESCO included the Cathedral of San Marco in its list of protected sites.
Video: St. Mark’s Cathedral
Contents- The new basilica – especially for the storage of relics
- The architecture of the Cathedral of St. Marco
- What to see in St. Mark’s Basilica
- Opening hours
- How to get there
New basilica – specifically for the storage of relics
News of the relic’s appearance quickly spread throughout Europe, and the Cathedral of San Marco became one of the holy places especially revered by Christians. However, in 976 there was a misfortune – a fire. After that the temple was repeatedly rebuilt. The final reconstruction was consecrated in 1094. In that form, virtually unchanged, the building of St. Mark’s Cathedral has survived to this day, rising close to the Canal Grande, the main “street” of modern Venice, stretching for 3800 meters.
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What to see at St. Mark’s Basilica
The altarpiece and the central nave are separated from each other. Between them there is an iconostasis of the late 14th century. A large cross crowns the altar barrier made of colored marble. On its sides, in addition to statues of the Evangelist Mark and the Virgin Mary, there are statues of all twelve disciples of Christ. The main cathedral altar, where, in fact, the relics of the apostle rest, is under the ciborium. They were moved there from the crypt in 1835. The set floor of the temple (XII century) is also marble, perfectly matching its interior and exterior decoration.The main altar, better known as the Pala d’Oro (“Golden Altar”), is priceless. It was created over nearly five hundred years by Byzantine jewelers. It spans 2.51 meters in height and 3.34 meters in length. It, consisting of 80 miniature icons, is called among the main treasures of the city. The icons are made in the cloisonné enamel technique, inlaid with precious stones and decorated with gold. Some of the treasures were stolen by Napoleon in 1797. Most of the treasures were preserved and can still be seen today. In general, the cathedral’s treasury is rich: priceless relics were brought back by the Crusaders who sacked Constantinople.
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Opening hours
On weekdays, the basilica is open from 9:45 to 17:00. On Sundays and holidays it is open from 14:00 to 17:00, in winter time until 16:00. Entrance is free of charge. St. Mark’s Cathedral Museum welcomes visitors from 9:45 to 16:45. The bell tower is accessible from 9:00 to 21:00 in the summer and until 15:45 in the winter.
.How to get there
There is an Aeroflot flight to Venice from Moscow. In St. Petersburg, you can board the Italian carrier AirOne.
Another option is to take the Moscow-Nice train. It goes through Verona, from which to Venice, if you change to an express train, only an hour’s journey.
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From the local train station Santa Lucia to the cathedral of San Marco runs a water bus (routes number 1, 2 and 51). Travel time is approximately 25 minutes. It is possible to walk, but it is longer – 30-45 min.
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