About St. Mark's Basilica Venice

When it comes to St Mark's Basilica Venice’s priceless treasures, the Pala d'Oro is unrivaled. This Byzantine altarpiece is a gold panel 3.45 meters in length and 1.4 meters in height that is encrusted with hundreds of gems, including 1,300 pearls, 300 emeralds, 300 sapphires, 400 garnets, 100 amethysts, rubies, and topazes. After Napoleon dishonestly stole several in 1797, security measures were strengthened and the gems are now kept under glass. This altar was designed and built by master goldsmiths from Venice and Constantinople. It features a Romanesque arch at the top and a Gothic arch at the bottom.

The St Mark's Basilica Venice’s treasury, which can be reached from the corner of the south transept, is located to the right of the main altar and houses priceless artifacts that have been acquired throughout the years. Items in the treasury can be found in four distinct groups: Items from antiquity and the early middle centuries, such as a pair of crystal lamps shaped like fish and a pair of amphorae fashioned from a single piece of agate. Goldwork from the Byzantine Empire, such as two little icons of St. Michael the Archangel and a pair of cloisonné enameled chalices. Islamic artifacts, such the turquoise glass bowl decorated with semiprecious stones and depicting stylized animals in relief, and featuring the famed perfume-brazier, objects of western provenance.

The Triumphal Quadriga greets visitors as they enter St. Mark's Museum (the four bronze horses). There is a wooden painting by Paolo Veneziano depicting scenes from the life of St. Mark that was used as the cover for the Pala d'Oro, a book published at the turn of the nineteenth century. There are also Byzantine sculptures from the 12th century, Persian carpets, liturgical costumes, illuminated manuscripts with the contents of St. Mark liturgies, and bits of historic mosaics that were taken during repairs in the 19th century. The earliest of these items dates back to the 13th century when Gobelin tapestries were created.

After the Fourth Crusade ended in 1204, valuable marbles from Constantinople poured into Venice. When building the basilica, these marbles were chosen for their symbolic significance due to their unique qualities and hues. As an illustration, the crimson porphyry was revered as the world's rarest gem and was thought to bestow divine favor. This is why it was chosen for the doge's tribune and the porphyry group of the Tetrarchs on the south front. The apse columns, which were especially prized, were crafted from pavonazzetto marble (distinguished by violet or reddish patterns), another rare marble.

Before the construction of the current basilica began in 1063, the rubble of the old church was used to create a crypt. This crypt houses the tomb of St. Mark, and was opened to the public once more in 1889, after the basilica had undergone extensive renovation. In a recent mind-numbing argument, a British historian argued that the tomb of the famous preacher, which is located underneath the presbytery, actually houses the bones of Alexander the Great. However, this notion has to be proven with more concrete facts.

St Mark's Basilica Venice is a large church with three symmetrical facades that radiate out from its lower body in the directions of the north, south, and west. The well-known Porta dei Fiori, also known as the Door of Flowers, is a Nativity relief from the 13th century that is located on the north facade overlooking Piazzetta dei Leoncini. Two ornate pillars, known as the Pilastri Acritani, stand in front of the building's southern front, which faces the Grand Canal. The Porphyry Group of the Tetrarchy and the Pietra del Bando, a Porphyry Column with its Base Cut Off, are located in the corner of this facade.

St. Mark's Basilica's west facade can be seen from the outside and is composed of three distinct sections: the lower section, the top section, and the domes. The narthex can be accessed through one of five arched entrances located on the lower register and framed by polychrome marble columns. Above the main gate is a gilded mosaic representing "The Last Judgment," which is one of a series of mosaics commemorating events from Christ's life. St. Mark's relics are described in the lunettes of the side gateways of north transept. The Winged Lion, the state emblem of the Republic of Venice, adorns the arch over the sizable picture window.

St Mark's Basilica Venice inside is home to more than 8,000 square meters of mosaics, most of which are made of gold, and was constructed over the course of 800 years. The gold background, lit exclusively from behind, not only provides an image that arrests the observer's senses, but also adorns the scene with a wealth of Christian art symbolism. Each arm of the Greek cross-shaped basilica is separated into three naves. Even though the cathedral's interior is a mishmash of architectural styles, ranging from classical to 19th-century, the shape and mosaics give it a Byzantine air.

All five domes, which stand over the Greek cross's intersection and its arms, are over 13 meters in diameter, and each dome features 16 windows. From 1160 to 1200 CE, gold mosaics were installed inside the domes. The center dome represents Christ's ascent into heaven after his resurrection. While some Western influences may be seen in the dome's decoration, the predominant style is unmistakably Byzantine, reflecting Venice's powerful and lucrative trade ties to the Eastern Roman Empire.

Transept Chapels typically honor a specific saint. Several different chapels honor the Virgin Mary and other saints in St. Mark's Basilica. They can be found in the relatively brief extensions along the main dome’s both sides. Above the north transept in the Cappella di San Giovanni are mosaics from the 12th century showing scenes from the life of St. John. The Byzantine image of the Madonna Nicopeia is displayed on Cappella della Madonna Nicopeia’s altar, which is also located in the north transept of St Mark's Basilica Venice inside. The south transept houses Cappella di San Clemente, traditionally known as the Doge's chapel.