Basilica San Marco

Open: 09.45-17.00. Hols: 14.00-17.00 (Nov.-Mar. 14.00-16.00).  
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The Basilica San Marco was first built between 828 and 832 to house the body of Saint Mark, which had been stolen (828) from the Muslim city of Alexandria by two Venetian merchants, Buono di Malamocco and Rustico da Torcello. The basilica was badly damaged by fire in 976 (when the body of Saint Mark was lost, or so it was thought), but it was soon restored. 

A century later, between 1063 and 1094, the church was once again rebuilt. During the course of its construction, part of a pillar in the right transept crumbled to reveal the arm of Saint Mark. The saint's body had miraculously survived. The church was consecrated on October 8th 1094, and the mortal remains of Saint Mark were duly interred in the crypt. In the 19th century the saint's body was placed under the High Altar, where it remains to this day. 

The Basilica San Marco, which was modelled on the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople, rapidly came to be the pride and joy of the Venetians. To embellish the church, the city's merchants were encouraged to bring back, from their travels in the east, columns made of marble, alabaster, jasper, porphyry and serpentine. 

Exterior: The principal façade facing the Piazza has five great arches, which are surmounted by a terrace running along the entire width of the church. Four of the five arches are closed by bronze doors. 

The doors of the Porta Maggiore (central portal) are Byzantine works dating back to the 6th century. The doors of the first portal are the work of Maestro Bertuccio (1300) as are the doors of the second portal, which are signed and dated: mccc bertuccius aurifex venetus me fecit. 

The three arches of the Porta Maggiore are decorated with a beautiful series of bas-reliefs, dating back to the 13th century.   

The south façade is very richly decorated as this was the first part of the church to be seen by sea-borne visitors. The two main bays, surmounted by a terrace, were originally open. The left arch was the Porta da Mar (sea-gate), which was filled in circa 1504 when the Cappella Zen was created. The bronze doors in the right bay once gave access to the baptistery. 

The north façade has four principal bays. The largest and most richly decorated bay contains the Porta dei Fiori. Its inner arch has a rich Moorish profile, which encloses a relief of the Nativity. The outer arch is decorated with figures of the prophets. 

The basilica is adorned with some of the most beautiful mosaics (many of which date back to the 12th and 13th centuries) in the world.

Interior: The basilica takes the form of Greek Cross with four nearly equal arms. The chancel terminates in a semicircular apse. 

The sanctuary is separated from the nave by an iconostasis or rood-screen. The fourteen statues (the twelve apostles, the Virgin Mary and Saint Mark) are the work of Pierpaolo and Jacobello dalle Masegne (signed and dated, 1394). The statues were actually carved from white marble, which has, over the centuries, acquired a brown patina, probably the result of candle smoke. The silver crucifix in the centre of the iconostasis is the work of Jacopo di Marco Bennato.

The Masegne brothers were also responsible for the two smaller iconostases in front of the Cappella di San Clemente and the Cappella di San Pietro. 

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Basilica San Marco

St Mark by Nicolo di Pietro Lamberti c. 1420

Iconostasis

Porta dei Fiori