St Mark's Basilica

St Mark's Basilica is the cathedral church of Venice, located on the eastern end of Saint Mark's Square and attached to the Doge's Palace. It holds the relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist, the city's patron saint. The present structure, begun around 1063, was built to express Venice's growing civic pride and power. Its design shows Middle-Byzantine, Romanesque, and Islamic influences, with Gothic elements added later. The interior is covered with gold-ground mosaics depicting saints, prophets, and biblical scenes, created over eight hundred years.

Don't miss

• The gold-ground mosaics covering the domes, vaults, and upper walls, depicting saints, prophets, and biblical scenes
• The Pala d'Oro, a golden altarpiece installed on the high altar in 1105
• The four ancient bronze horses placed prominently over the entry, brought from Constantinople
• The crypt, which was enlarged to the east and supports the raised chancel
• The narthex, originally limited to the western side, later extended to create an entry hall toward the Doge's Palace

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit St Mark's Basilica

Cheapest way inSt. Mark's Basilica: Golden Cathedral Priority Visit (Refundable)4.5★ · 480 travelers1-2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$14 per personSee dates →Most bookedLegendary Venice: Doge's Palace, St Mark's & VIP Terrace Access4.7★ · 5,694 travelers2-3 hoursFrom$83 per personSee dates →Top ratedVenice In a Day St Mark's Doges Palace Gondola Ride and City Tour4.8★ · 4,539 travelers4-6 hoursFrom$129 per personSee dates →

Getting there

Know before you go

• The basilica is located on the eastern end of Saint Mark's Square, attached to the Doge's Palace.
• It is dedicated to Saint Mark the Evangelist, the patron saint of Venice, and holds his relics.
• The mosaics represent eight hundred years of artistic styles, with contributions from Renaissance artists like Paolo Veronese, Tintoretto, and Titian.

A bit of history

The first church on the site was built around 829–836 to house the relics of Saint Mark, brought from Alexandria by Venetian merchants. That church was damaged by fire in 976 during a popular uprising and was repaired. The current building was begun around 1063 under Doge Domenico I Contarini. Over time, the original brick façades and interior walls were embellished with precious stones and rare marbles, many of them spoils taken from Constantinople after the Fourth Crusade. The four ancient bronze horses placed over the entry were among the plundered artefacts.