Sestiere San Marco
Basilica di San Marco
St. Mark's Basilica
Grandiose cathedral with a gilded interior, the center of religious power in Venice.
San Marco (5-min walk)
www.basilicasanmarco.it
+39 041 270 8311
Onsite admission starts at €3. To avoid waiting in queues, consider purchasing online skip-the-line tickets.
Highlights
A smuggling tale
The church was founded in the 9th century to house the relics of St. Mark, after two clever Venetian merchants smuggled the saint's body out of Egypt. They hid it in a barrel of pork fat to conceal it from Muslim guards.
Where East meets West
With its blend of Byzantine, Gothic and Romanesque styles, the church is a unique architectural marvel that reflects the city's cultural connections.
Endless gilded mosaics
The upper levels of the interior are completely covered with intricate mosaics crafted over the course of eight centuries. Many of them use 24-carat gold leaf fused onto the back of the glass to symbolize divine light. They vividly tell stories from the Bible and depict events from the lives of Christ, Saint Mark and other saints.
The numbers behind Pala d'Oro
As if the mosaics were not lavish enough, this 3x2 meter altarpiece is made of gold and silver, featuring 187 enamel plaques and a staggering 1,927 gems: 526 pearls, 330 garnets, 320 emeralds, 255 sapphires, 183 amethysts, 175 agates, 75 rubies, 34 topazes, 16 carnelians and 13 jaspers.
Horses of Saint Mark
The Horses of the Hippodrome of Constantinople are a set of copper statues from classical antiquity. They were placed on the facade of the church after the sack of Constantinople in 1204. Outside are replicas, while the originals can be seen inside the museum on the first floor.
Sweeping views
The upper terrace offers a unique vantage point over the other landmarks in Piazza San Marco.
Why visit
The so-called Church of Gold will stir overwhelming emotions with its evocative mosaics, rich history and projected power, making it deeply memorable. It is a tribute not just to the glory of God but also to the glory of Venice.
Insider Tips
Choose to skip the line
Onsite tickets are slightly cheaper than online options.
However, you'll compete with thousands of tourists for entry, resulting in long queues.
Skip the queue with an online ticket.
Take a guided tour
As you can imagine, there are plenty of guided tours available and they all include skip-the-line entry.
Some tours even combine visita to the basilica and Palazzo Ducale.
Join an evening tour
An evening tour will allow you to have the church almost all to yourself, without the noise and pushing of crowds.
This mystical experience is enhanced by the breathtaking illumination of the mosaics.
Connect the Dots
The grounds
In the 12th century, the nuns from the convent of San Zaccaria donated the land for the construction of a ducal chapel, which eventually evolved into the current Basilica.
Nearby
These top places are steps away from Basilica di San Marco:
