Basilica San Marco: Museo di San Marco

Admission fee: €5.

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The Museo di San Marco houses tapestries, mosaics and documents relating to the history of the basilica, but the greatest attraction for most visitors is the quadriga, the four antique gilded-copper horses. The horses arrived in Venice as part of the booty from the so-called fourth crusade and the consequent sacking of Constantinople, in 1204.

The horses were given pride of place over the balcony of the basilica, where they remained for centuries. However, when Venice fell to the forces of Napoleon they were removed to Paris. Fortunately for the Venetians, the horses were returned to their city in 1815. A few decades ago they were moved inside to the museum and replaced by copies. 

The horses of Saint Mark