Saint Mark's Basilica
As one can guess, San Marco Basilica is located on Saint Mark's Square in Venice, between Saint Mark's Campanile and the Doge's Palace.
Saint Mark's Basilica was built to protect Saint Mark's relics. Those relics had been brought from Alexandria to Venice by 2 Venetian tradesmen. Saint Mark is said to have an extraordinary force as well as a long-lasting positive influence on the history of Venice - therefore did he become the patron saint of Venice.
Saint Mark's Basilica was built in 832 but partly destroyed by the fire of 976. It was rebuilt much more magnificent and impressive than it had originally been.
Saint Mark's Basilika has been many times enlarged, modified and richly decorated along the centuries. The last major modification took place in the late 15th or early 16th century. San Marco Basilica has a mostly Byzantine architecture because of its Greek cross map and the oriental-styled decoration inside. It was however also influenced by other styles - such as the Roman and the Gothic.
The power and wealth of Venice between the 11th and 15th centuries gave Saint Mark's Basilica its many domes as well as gold mosaics on the inside and the outside. Yet there is much more to be said about Saint Mark's Basilica than the sheer fact that it is a very impressive church!
If you are interested in Saint Mark's Basilica and would like to know more about it, you should think of including it into a Venetian guided walk and letting a professional English-speaking guide tell you about San Marco Basilica's fascinating secrets! And even if you already know the Basilica, the Italian tour guides must know some secret you have never heard of!
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