Venice landmark: St. Mark's Cathedral. Piazza San Marco and Cathedral in Venice The main cathedral of Venice is named after
June 26th, 2012
St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice is not only an outstanding monument Italian medieval art, but occupies an honorable place in the treasury of world architectural masterpieces. From the time of its creation, the cathedral building could not leave anyone indifferent to its amazing beauty. The famous Austrian writer Franz Grillparzer describes his impressions of contemplating the cathedral as follows: “The one who, standing on St. Mark, does not feel that his heart is beating faster, he can allow himself to be buried, for he is dead, hopelessly dead... The one who has St. Mark doesn’t have a heartbeat, doesn’t have one at all.”
St. Mark's Cathedral is unique in that it represents a rare example of Byzantine architecture (moreover, in its highest artistic embodiment) in Western Europe. The cathedral houses the relics of the Apostle Mark and a huge collection of works of art that were taken from Constantinople during the Crusades. In 1987, the architectural and historical value of the cathedral received further recognition - it was included in the number of objects World Heritage UNESCO.
"View of St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the Piazzetta", Carlo Grubacz, 1845
All the beauty and uniqueness of the cathedral can be described by a phrase from the famous English art critic John Ruskin ( John Ruskin), who in 1851 said something like this: “You can stand at St. Mark's Cathedral all day, carefully observing the reactions of people passing by, and during all that time you will not see a single person who does not look up at him. Soldier and townsman, executioner and poet, rich and poor - none of them can pass by and remain indifferent!” Today, after so many years, nothing has changed. People from all over the world never cease to admire the beauty of the structure, examining the cathedral with admiration.
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The history of the creation of the cathedral resembles an adventure novel. From the very beginning, the basilica was built to house the relics of the Apostle Mark, which on January 31, 829 were brought by the Venetian merchants Buono and Rustico from Alexandria to Venice. While in Alexandria, the merchants learned that Muslims were planning to destroy a number of Christian churches to make way for the construction of mosques. The Venetians decided to save the relics of the saint from inevitable desecration, especially since, according to Holy Tradition, the preaching of Christianity in the cities of the Venetian lagoon is associated with the Apostle Mark. With many precautions and tricks the relics were removed, and after their arrival in Venice, apostle mark received the status of patron of the city, giving him his symbol - a winged lion.
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Construction of the first version of the building was started by Doge Giustiniano Partecipazio in 829 and completed in 832 by his brother Giovanni. In 976, a fire caused serious damage to the cathedral, but it was later restored. At the same time, according to many researchers, we are talking about restoration, and not about new construction. Construction of the modern building began in 1063 under the reign of Doge Domenico Contarini, and the following year the cathedral was consecrated.
In 1071 the church was largely finished, and in 1094 it was solemnly consecrated. The design of the cathedral lasted for several centuries, and each generation of Venetians added something of their own to its appearance, filling it with fabulous treasures.
Nowhere in the world - neither in the East nor in the West - is there anything like it. This is how the masters of Venice showed their talent already in their first major creation.
The Church of San Marco went down in history as St. Mark's Cathedral, although officially throughout the Middle Ages cathedral he was not (this role belonged to the church of San Pietro di Castello until 1807).
Gradually, San Marco turned into a magnificent monument of architecture and art. The cathedral was not only a repository of sacred relics, but also the center of public life in Venice. Here the initiations of the Doge took place, naval commanders and condottieri received signs of their powers. Saint Mark was the religious and civil symbol of Venice.
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In addition to history, the architectural component is also very interesting - the fact is that originally built in the form of a classical Greek basilica with a Romanesque facade, the cathedral over the years has become an arena for mixing different styles. Suffice it to say that its appearance combines oriental marble, Romanesque and Greek bas-reliefs, Italian and Byzantine sculptures, as well as Gothic capitals. It is very important that, thanks to the talent of the master builders, all these very different elements together formed a very solid and organic architectural ensemble.
The shape of the cathedral is typically Byzantine and represents an equal-armed Greek cross. The structure of the altar, which is separated from the central nave by a Gothic iconostasis, is curious. The altar barrier is made of dark red Verona marble, it is crowned with a large cross, on either side of which there are 14 statues - the 12 apostles, as well as the Virgin Mary and St. Mark. In the altar itself there is a ciborium (canopy over the altar), under which is located the main altar of the temple with the relics of St. Mark. It's carved from a single piece green oriental marble and is supported by four columns of limestone alabaster, each of which in 9 rows contains reliefs depicting the story of the Virgin Mary and Jesus.
Many craftsmen invested their labor, skills and talent in the construction and decoration of the “golden basilica” (so named because of the abundance of gold here). The grandiose building was built on the model of the unsurvived Church of the Twelve Apostles in Constantinople.
Venice adopted a lot from the wise Byzantium. The main structure of the building is Byzantine. The building is topped with five lantern-shaped domes with gilded crosses from the 13th century. The facade has huge niches and half-open arches. The cathedral is complemented by marble cladding and luxurious portals, decorated with two tiers of columns, arches with sculptures and mosaics above the entrance.
The cathedral received its festive decorations in the 12th-14th centuries. At the beginning of the 14th century, the building was crowned with a magnificent, whimsical cornice in the Gothic style. The decorative details of San Marco date back to different times and have different origins. Based on their artistic merits, they deserve to be discussed in detail.
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Some of the reliefs were brought from Byzantium. Some of them represent various crafts, scenes of hunting or fishing. The bronze doors of the entrances are very interesting: the two doors on the edges are beautiful works by Bertucci, made in 1300, as evidenced by the signature of the master and the date directly on the doors. The middle door is converted from a Byzantine one. The decor is rich with mosaic decorations. The first ones were made in the 13th century. The mosaic compositions of the main portal reproduce the scene of the Last Judgment, others are dedicated to the story of the abduction and arrival of the body of St. Mark in Venice. The Latin inscriptions above them say that St. Mark is brought in so that he “always protects the Venetians from enemies.” Only the first of the mosaics have been preserved in their original form, and from them one can easily imagine what the cathedral looked like in the 13th century. Other mosaics are located above the entrances to the cathedral: “The Abduction of the Body of St. Mark from Alexandria”, “The Arrival of the Body of St. Mark in Venice”, “The Venetian Lords Meet the Body of St. Mark”. The authors of these works are Pietro della Vecchia and Sebastiano Ricci. This is only a small part of the entire sculptural and mosaic decor of the cathedral. Here, all the domes and vaults are filled with gold mosaics, the total area of which is more than 4000 m
St. Mark's Cathedral is a whole museum of the history of Byzantine and Venetian art, which contains the most valuable artistic monuments. The main idea of this colossal structure is the triumph of the Venetian Republic.
Above the central entrance to the cathedral there is the famous quadriga - four bronze horses, which were erected in the 4th century BC. e. cast by craftsmen from the Greek island of Chios. First, the quadriga was brought to Rome, where it adorned the triumphal arch. In the 4th century AD e. she was sent to Constantinople, where she was placed on the gates of the hippodrome and remained there for several centuries.
In 1204, Doge Enrico Dandolo, at the head of the crusaders, took Constantinople. As a trophy, he took from there horses taken from the arch of the Byzantine emperor. The horses first stood on a pedestal near the Doge's Palace, but in 1797, by order of Napoleon, whose troops occupied Venice, the horses were sent to Paris and installed on Carousel Square opposite the Louvre, where the famous quadriga remained for eighteen years.
After Napoleon's defeat in 1815, the horses were returned to Venice and placed above the central entrance to St. Mark's Basilica. During two world wars, the quadriga was lowered into hiding. Now the priceless original is in the museum, and its bronze copy is on the dome of St. Mark's Cathedral.
Through the main entrance of the cathedral you will enter the atrium, originally intended for nephrites (uninitiated). The walls are lined with marble and mosaics, they depict events from the Old Testament. The mosaic “Creation of the World and Man” is especially impressive. Individual scenes are arranged in concentric circles. The entire story of Adam and Eve is described in great detail, and each day of creation is marked by a white angel.
The Russian artist Surikov, seeing this mosaic, was so delighted with it that he wrote: “I have never seen in old painting, or even in modern painting, that a legend was conveyed with such psychological truth.”
Numerous mosaics cover the domes and arches of the cathedral. Huge compositions were created by unknown masters bit by bit, from pieces of glass and stone.
The art of mosaics was introduced to the Venetians by Byzantine masters who came to Venice. Masters from Byzantium passed on the secrets of mosaic technique: the degree of light transmission and reflectivity of glass, stone and metal, the combination of gold and paints. In the 9th-14th centuries, the Venetian school of mosaic painting emerged.
Gradually, the mosaics were located on the walls of the cathedral in a strict order, starting with the image of Christ and scenes from the life of the 12 apostles and ending with the images of all the saints and patrons of Venice.
The earliest mosaic - an image of St. Mark and St. Nicholas - dates back to the 9th century. In the 12th century, compositions of scenes of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles were made. In the 13th century, the art of mosaic began to flourish. At this time, the mosaic “Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane” appeared, in which the Byzantine golden background was preserved, but there was a Venetian concrete worldview.
The mosaic in the center of the dome (XIII century) called “The Ascension of Christ” also retained Byzantine features. On the supporting arches of the dome are scenes from the New Testament: the childhood of Christ, the miracles he performed, the Crucifixion and Resurrection. The Venetian in these compositions manifested itself in the desire for colorfulness and festivity. The beauty of the mosaics and marble of the walls is combined with the ornamentation of the floor, which is especially striking with the brilliance of colors after a flood, when the water rises to the level of the atrium floor.
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In the center of the atrium, there is a red slab embedded in the floor, which also has its own legend. The slab indicates the place where the meeting between Pope Alexander III and the German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa took place on July 23, 1177. Pope Alexander III was an enemy of the emperor, who opposed him to another Pope, Paschal III. In 1176, the emperor, having suffered defeat at the Battle of Legnano, was forced to enter into negotiations with the league and Alexander III.
In the summer of 1177, the opponents made peace in Venice, and near St. Mark's Cathedral, Frederick I knelt before the victorious pope. The emperor said at the same time that he was prostrating himself not before the pope, but before Saint Peter, to which the pope judiciously replied: “Both before me and before Peter.”
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You cannot leave the atrium without stopping in front of the tomb of Felicita Mikiel, decorated with magnificent marble lace. The entire interior of the cathedral produces an indelible impression of grandeur and grandeur: huge domes, soaring vaults, mosaics sparkling with gold, a rich pattern of the stone floor.
In the middle of the cathedral there is an altar barrier made of polychrome marble, decorated with columns and sculptures. The altar part of the cathedral houses a unique treasure - the golden altar. This is one of the richest altars that has survived to this day. The history of its creation goes back 400 years. The altar was commissioned by Doge Orseolo in 1105, remade for Falier, then decorated with enamels and gold in 1209.
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Six enamel plates with episodes depicted on them are inserted into the upper part of the altar Sacred history- these enamels were most likely exported during Crusade from the Monastery of the Pantocrator in Constantinople. At the bottom of the enamel, Christ is depicted surrounded by evangelists, angels, apostles and prophets, and there are also sculptural figures of Empress Irene and Doge Ordelaorfo Falier.
Enamels themselves are of the greatest value, and those decorated with gold, diamonds, rubies and pearls are not only a work of art, but also a most valuable treasure.
On the left side of the cathedral there is an altar of the Madonna with the icon “Madonna Bringing Victory”, which is considered the patroness of Venice. This Byzantine icon belonged to the Monastery of St. John the Evangelist in Constantinople, where it was brought along with other valuable items after the Crusade. In the right wing of the baptistery there is a baptistery.
In the center of it is a huge font, made according to a drawing by Jacopo Sansovino, and next to it is the tombstone of Andrea Dandolo, one of the most revered doges of Venice, a friend of Petrarch.
But the most famous of the images kept here is the figure of Salome in red robes, with the head of John the Baptist on a platter. This work inspired A. Blok to write the following lines:
In the shadow of the palace gallery
Slightly illuminated by the moon,
Salome passes by hiding
With my bloody head.
Everything is asleep - palaces, canals, people;
Just a ghost's sliding step,
Just a head on a black platter
He looks longingly into the surrounding darkness.
View cathedral Saint Brand, Doge's Palace and Piazzetta", Carlo Grubacz, 1845
Next to the altar is the Isidore Chapel. It contains a sarcophagus containing the relics of this saint.
The rarest treasures belonging to Venice and the cathedral have long been kept in the treasury of San Marco. True, not all treasures have reached us completely. But what has survived is also of interest. Visitors will be shown a marble relic in the form of a chair, made in the 4th century, Byzantine bowls, Egyptian objects made of rock crystal, and a one-of-a-kind item - the “grotto of Our Lady”, made in Venice in the 13th century from various objects.
There is a museum in San Marco with three rooms. It houses mosaics, Flemish and Persian carpets, and collections of marble fragments from the 9th-14th centuries.
typesetting marble floor The cathedral fits perfectly with the interior and exterior marble decoration; it is made of slabs polychrome marble with inserts of mosaic images, which are also made of marble pieces of various sizes and shapes.
In general, it should be noted that marble did not appear in the decoration of the cathedral immediately, as marble cladding The façade appeared only in the 13th century and is associated with the trophies of the fourth crusade (columns and capitals from Constantinople temples and palaces), which became the source of the idea of giving the temple greater splendor. Let us remember that the original architectural appearance was determined by the canons of the Romanesque style and was very ascetic.
The cathedral is famous for its mosaics, including “The Descent from the Cross”, “The Descent of Jesus Christ into Hell”, “The Resurrection of Christ” and many others. total area mosaic canvases about 4000 sq. meters.
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One of the most striking evidence of how the cathedral's architecture absorbed various influences is the quadriga of St. Mark. This is a multi-figure antique equestrian statue of the 4th century BC, which once adorned the Constantinople Hippodrome and was taken to Venice in 1204. In the 1970s, for preservation purposes, the quadriga was replaced with a copy; in 1982, the original adorned the basilica museum.
The cathedral has five domes - one central and four above the branches of the cross. In turn, each of the domes also forms the center of the cross-domed group.
IN crypt(a place used for the burial of the relics of saints) of the cathedral, some elements have been preserved that historically date back to the first basilica. In its center is a chapel, decorated with marble openwork slab Byzantine work, it was under it that the relics of St. Mark were kept until 1835, which were then transferred to the main altar.
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, Altar, Apse of the altar.
In the southern part of the cathedral there is baptistery(a room intended for baptism), its walls are lined with marble, and the vaults and lunettes are decorated with mosaics. The center of the baptistery is a stone font, which is covered with a bronze relief lid.
One of the brightest elements interior decoration cathedral - Pala d'Oro(Pala d'Oro - “golden altar” in Italian) is an altar image located at the main altar of the temple. It is decorated with 250 miniatures made using the cloisonne enamel technique, which are inserted into a gilded silver frame decorated with 2000 precious and semi-precious stones The altar itself is placed in a marble monstrance.
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In the rooms that connect the temple with the nearby Doge's Palace, there is treasury, its collection consists of trophies of the Crusades and gifts from the popes.
Among the features of the cathedral directly related to architecture, one can note its amazing acoustics, thanks to which it has attracted famous musicians and composers in different years.
St. Mark's Cathedral is closely adjacent to the Doge's Palace, with which it is connected by an internal passage.
Address: Italy, Venice, St. Mark's Square
Start of construction: 1063
Completion of construction: 1094
Architect: Domenico I Contarini
Shrines: relics of the Apostle Mark and Isidore of Chios
Coordinates: 45°26"04.4"N 12°20"23.6"E
Short description
View of St. Mark's Basilica and the Campanile of St. Mark's Basilica from St. Mark's Square
The image of a winged lion can be found everywhere in Venice, as it is a symbol of the Evangelist Mark, the heavenly patron of the city. The first chapel dedicated to the apostle began to be built back in 829. The relics of St. Mark were kept in it, stolen by Venetian sailors from Egyptian Alexandria. Having learned that Muslims were destroying Christian churches to build mosques, the Venetians decided to save the remains of the evangelist from desecration.
According to legend, in order to transport the relic by ship, the merchants resorted to a trick: they covered the relics of the saint with pork carcasses and told the Saracen customs officers that they were carrying pork. The Saracens, who profess Islam, could not touch an unclean animal, and they did not check the cargo. The Basilica of St. Mark was burned in 976 during a popular uprising that overthrew the Venetian Doge (ruler) Pietro IV Candiano.
St. Mark's Cathedral from St. Mark's Clock Tower
The modern Cathedral of San Marco was built quite quickly, within 30 years, and was expanded and decorated over the next five centuries. Since there were fears that the Alexandrians would learn about the theft of the relic, the Venetian authorities announced the miracle of the appearance of the remains.
All residents of Venice were ordered to fast and pray in order to find the relics of the evangelist with God's help. On June 25, 1904, God “heard” the prayers of the Venetians: during a service, part of a marble slab fell off near one of the columns, and the saint’s hand appeared from the hole. No one had any doubt that the relics were found in a truly miraculous manner.
St. Mark's Basilica from the Campanile of St. Mark's Basilica
Until 1807, St. Mark's Cathedral served as a palace chapel. Doges were crowned here and the army was blessed before the Crusades. From here famous Venetian captains went on long voyages, and from here Marco Polo began his journey. Within the walls of this basilica, the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick I Barbarossa, made peace with Pope Alexander III. Not a single Venetian celebration was complete without a mass in St. Mark's Basilica. The Venetian carnivals were noisy and noisy in the square in front of the basilica.
St. Mark's Cathedral - a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture
Among the monuments of Byzantine architecture, the Basilica of San Marco is equal in importance to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. St. Mark's Cathedral is a cross-domed basilica, built on the model of the Constantinople Church of the Holy Apostles. Over the years of reconstruction, elements of various architectural styles - Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic and Oriental - were intertwined in it.
Facade of St. Mark's Cathedral
The five portals, corresponding to the five entrances to the cathedral, are decorated with two tiers of columns, arches with sculptures of saints and mosaics above the entrance. Some of the reliefs and marble columns with openwork capitals were brought from Constantinople. The mosaic above the main entrance is dedicated to biblical prophecies about the Second Coming of Christ, while the other four depict the story of the theft and arrival of the relics of the Apostle Mark in Venice.
The central portal is crowned with a gilded quadriga - an antique chariot drawn by horses (now a copy, the original is kept in the cathedral museum). This quadriga was obtained by the Venetians after the sack of Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade in 1204. The ensemble of the basilica ends with five huge domes, lined with lead plates, with crosses on top.
View of the cathedral from the embankment
St. Mark's Cathedral - Golden Basilica
The interior decoration of St. Mark's Cathedral amazes with the abundance of colored marbles, church utensils and mosaics on biblical subjects, occupying an area of 4000 square meters. meters Glass fragments of various colors are laid out on the finest gold leaf. Under the throne of the high altar, glittering with gold and precious stones, a shrine with the relics of St. Mark is kept. Above the altar is the Pala d'Oro ("Golden Altar") - an iconostasis made by Byzantine craftsmen commissioned by the Venetians in 1343. The Gothic frame, made of gilded silver, consists of 250 enamel miniatures, inlaid with 2000 precious and semi-precious stones. The altar depicts scenes from the New Testament and events from the life of the Apostle Mark.
Fragment of the cathedral facade
Due to the abundance of gold, San Marco is sometimes called the "Golden Basilica". The English art critic John Ruskin wrote that “Venice is the only city that possesses such a famous Bible. The Book-Temple twinkles from afar, like the Star of Bethlehem.”
When going on a trip to Venice, it is difficult to ignore the famous Piazza San Marco. Besides the fact that it is the most spacious place in the entire floating town, the square is very majestic and romantic, therefore it is one of the most popular tourist places in Italy (and in Instagram:)). There are so many interesting objects collected here that it could take a whole day to get to know them. Let's figure out which of the attractions of San Marco is better to spend your time on, especially if it is limited. And at the same time we will learn a lot interesting facts O famous square and the buildings that decorate it.
Piazza San Marco
Historical references to Piazza San Marco in Venice appear as early as the 9th century. At that time, it was a small area at the main entrance to the basilica. The area expanded to its current size only in the 12th century.
Piazza San Marco is famous not only for its outstanding architecture (just look at the photo!), but also for the fact that it has become the location for the filming of numerous films. And this is not surprising - the space and special atmosphere allow you to shoot mesmerizing footage here!
Locals call this square respectfully - “Piazza”. All other sites are called the more modest “campo”. Conventionally, the space of the square is divided into two sections: Piazzetta(a kind of corridor that goes from the Grand Canal past the Doge's Palace and the Library of San Marco to the Campanile), and directly Piazza(the rest of the area).
Piazzetta San Marco
A special entertainment for tourists is feeding pigeons, of which there is a whole winged army! You can also buy bird food on site. This tradition was broken only by the bird flu that spread in 2008. To avoid large crowds of birds, the sale of food on the square was stopped, which did not stop children and hunters from looking for beautiful shots.
Pay attention to the pavement made of stone. It is believed that the pattern on the pavement, which is formed by light stripes, once played an important practical role and served as landmarks for processions participating in various ceremonies.
Cathedral of San Marco: a history going back centuries
The Cathedral of San Marco is the religious center of Venice and the most visited temple in the city. In addition, it is one of the oldest - construction of the building ended in 832. The temple was built specifically for the relics of St. Mark the Apostle, patron saint of Venice and the Venetians. By the way, a very interesting story is connected with the appearance of the relics in the city.
Once upon a time, the relics of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark were in Alexandria. The Venetian merchants Buono and Rustico, who traveled to those parts, heard that Muslims were going to destroy Christian churches and build mosques in their place. And they came up with a cunning plan. They stole the shrine and hid it under pig carcasses, knowing that Muslims do not touch this animal. Thanks to this trick, the relics ended up on the ship and were safely transported to Venice. By the way, on the central facade of the Cathedral there is a mosaic drawing illustrating an ancient legend.
Of course, over such a long history, the ancient basilica has undergone many changes and seen many events. In 976 the building burned. And in 1063, the construction of a new grandiose cathedral began in the same place, and already in 1094 it was consecrated. The Venetians did not skimp on decorating their main basilica! Over the centuries, the temple grew, became prettier and richer. Today, amazing mosaics, beautiful bas-reliefs and extraordinary architectural forms appear before admiring tourists. And inside the Cathedral of San Marco, in addition to cultural and architectural treasures, important Christian shrines are also kept - in addition to the relics of St. Mark, these are the heads of the apostles James the Younger and Titus, the relics of the martyr Isidore, ancient image Holy Mother of God“Nicopaea”, a piece of the Life-giving Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, and other Christian relics that attract pilgrims to the basilica.
Architecture and decoration of the Basilica of San Marco
The appearance of the cathedral is dominated by the Byzantine style, which is unusual for churches in Italy. To a lesser extent, elements of Gothic, Romanesque and Oriental architecture are found here, forming a bizarre mixture of styles.
At the bottom of the basilica's façade there are 5 arched bays decorated with bright mosaics; the space between the arches is decorated with Byzantine bas-reliefs. And on the western side of San Marco is decorated with the famous quadriga - bronze figures four horses. This trophy came to Venice in 1204, after the Crusade against Constantinople. The original sculpture was gilded, made by the Greek master Lysippos. Today it is carefully preserved in the basilica museum, and a bronze copy adorns the building.
Cathedral of San Marco inside
The interior of the cathedral amazes with its splendor and luxurious decoration. The walls and ceilings of the basilica are covered with amazing gilded Byzantine mosaics depicting scenes from the Holy Scriptures.
Under the main altar are kept relics of Saint Mark, main shrine Venice. And behind the altar is the pearl of the temple - Pala d'Oro, or Golden Iconostasis. This masterpiece was made by skilled Constantinople jewelers and contains 80 small icons, richly decorated with gold and decorative stones. Just imagine, it took almost 500 years to create such a masterpiece!
One of the chapels is decorated with a miraculous Byzantine icon of the 11th or 12th century Madonna Nikopea. This shrine (like, by the way, many others) was brought to the Cathedral of San Marco after one of the crusades.
Deserves special attention Treasury of the Basilica, which houses Christian relics, relics of saints, as well as Byzantine antiquities, valuable church utensils, household items of Byzantine emperors and nobility. All this was brought by the Venetians from the East, donated by Byzantine emperors or popes, or obtained as a result of the Crusades.
Other interesting places in Piazza San Marco
The Cathedral of St. Mark the Apostle is, of course, not the only attraction of the square. Every building here has an interesting and rich history. Here are some of them.
Castle Doges
Doge's Palace in Venice
One of the symbols of Venice. This whimsical masterpiece of Gothic architecture served as the residence of Venetian rulers for centuries until Napoleon's occupation of the republic in the 18th century. The first version of this building was built back in 810. Since then, the building was rebuilt several times until it acquired its modern appearance in the 16th century. The beautiful three-story palace is adjacent to the Basilica of San Marco and complements the amazing architectural ensemble of the elegant square.
Library of St. Mark (Biblioteca Marciana)
Library of San Marco
The Renaissance building of the Marciana Library stands opposite the Doge's Palace, and its façade faces the Grand Canal. The building is decorated with sculptural exhibits and decorative stucco moldings. And the library itself is famous for its rich history and unique collection of ancient books and manuscripts (more than 13 thousand valuable handwritten works!) Among the book values stored here are copies of the Iliad of the 5th and 6th centuries and the first book that was published in Venice.
Campanile, or bell tower of San Marco (Campanile di San Marco)
Bell tower in Piazza San Marco
The grandiose bell tower rises 99 meters above St. Mark's Square. The history of this building dates back to the 9th century. But the original building collapsed in 1902 and was rebuilt 10 years later. There were 5 bells on the bell tower, each of which had its own purpose. For example, one of them was intended to encourage residents to go to work. What a concern!
Logetta Sansovino
Loggett in St. Mark's Square
There was once a stable on the site of this building. Later, the nobility held ceremonial receptions in Loggett or used it as a guard post of the Doge's Palace. After the Bell Tower of San Marco collapsed on Loggetta in 1902, the structure was rebuilt in its modern form.
Old and New Procurations
These buildings frame San Marco Square in its western part, decorating it with graceful arcades. Once upon a time, they housed procurators, whose main task was the management of state real estate. Since the building of the Cathedral of San Marco was included in the controlled list, the Procuration was built right next to the shrine.
Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio)
The Orologio Tower adorned the square at the end of the 15th century. On the façade of the tower, a large antique astronomical clock, covered with gold and enamel and decorated with Zodiac signs, is noteworthy. They not only display the 24 hours, but also show the position of the planets, as well as the sun and moon in the Zodiac. A statue of the Virgin Mary looks down at us from a small niche above the dial. And at the very top clock tower San Marco is crowned with giant bronze figures that strike a bell with a hammer every hour.
Interesting facts about the square and the Cathedral of San Marco
- The main attraction of Venice, San Marco Cathedral, is called the “Church of Gold” (Chiesa d’Oro). This name is associated not only with the luxurious design and abundance of gilding inside and outside, but also with the significance of the building. For centuries, the Basilica of San Marco has been a symbol of Venetian wealth and power.
- Napoleon surprisingly aptly called Piazza San Marco “the most elegant drawing room in Europe.”
- The first thing that will greet you on the pavement near the Piazzetta is the columns of Saints Mark and Theodore. These are the trophies that Venice received for its assistance in the war with King Tire. Nowadays only two columns can be seen on the Piazzetta. The third of them fell into the water while unloading the ship and to this day “rests” on the muddy bottom of the Grand Canal.
- Another interesting fact about the two columns on the Piazzetta. In the Middle Ages, the two beautiful columns decorating the square were often used to hang criminals. That’s why superstitious Venetians never pass between these columns.
- The famous winged lion, which is the symbol of Venice, has always served as an allegorical image of St. Mark the Evangelist. After his relics arrived in Venice, the saint was “appointed” as the main patron of the city, and therefore his symbol became the symbol of Venice.
- In autumn and spring, during the period of “high water” (aqua alta), when heavy rains come to Venice, the beautiful Piazza San Marco is flooded with water. The spectacle is amazing! To move in such conditions, you need high rubber boots. In Venice, special disposable shoes are sold for such cases. In addition, the city authorities have provided wooden platforms for movement during flood periods. When the streets are dry, the structure looks ridiculous, but as soon as the water level rises, its purpose immediately becomes clear.
How many other interesting facts we have prepared for you in our excursion “” with the Travelry audio guide!
San Marco: practical information for tourists
How to get there
To get to Piazza San Marco, you need to either use by water transport, or walk ( ground transport in this part of the city there is simply none!) The old part of Venice is not so big, but hiking they are very pleasant, so don’t neglect this option if you have the time and energy. If you are in a hurry, take the vaporetto to the main attraction of Venice ( water bus- this type of transport in Venice serves as a public transport).
From Piazzale Roma(Piazzale Roma), where guests arriving by bus or car disembark; routes 1 (about 40 minutes), 51 direct (20 minutes) and 2 direct (30 minutes) go to Piazza San Marco. The walk takes about 40 minutes.
FromSanta Lucia train station) , where tourists traveling by train come, walk for 30-45 minutes, depending on the chosen route. You can get there by the same vaporetto: No. 1 takes about 35 minutes, routes 51 direct and 2 direct take about 25 minutes.
Vaporetto runs frequently, every 10 minutes. You need to get off at the San Marco stop.
You can also, of course, always take water taxis.
Visiting the museums of San Marco
There is a single ticket for visiting 4 museums located in Piazza San Marco: Doge's Palace, Correr Museum, National archaeological museum and the Monumental Rooms of the Marciana Library. You can buy tickets online. If you need a reservation in Russian, then.
Opening hours of attractions
Cathedral of San Marco
The basilica is open on weekdays from 9.45 to 17.00, on Sundays and holidays - from 14.00 to 16.30 or 17.00, depending on the season. Entrance to the Museum and Treasury closes earlier.
Entrance to the basilica is free, but if you want to separately visit the altar with the relics of the Apostle Mark and explore the Pala d'Oro, the treasury, the basilica museum, and the bell tower, you will need to pay from 2 to 5 Euros.
Official website of the Cathedral of San Marco: www.basilicasanmarco.it
Visiting the Cathedral of San Marco: life hacks
- Although entry to the basilica itself is free, not all tourists want to waste time in huge queues to enter. You can avoid them by purchasing a special ticket on the official website.
- Photography and video shooting are prohibited inside the basilica.
- The interior of the cathedral is usually quite dark, which can make it difficult to view the magnificent frescoes. Few people know that the temple is fully illuminated only at certain hours: from 11.30 to 12.45 on weekdays and all day on Sundays and church holidays.
- Allow about 10 minutes to examine the interior of the Basilica of San Marco - you won’t be able to stay inside for long (this limit does not apply to the rooms of the Treasury and the Golden Iconostasis).
Doge's Palace
Opening hours: 8.30–19.00 (entrance until 18.00)
Official website: http://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/
You can visit the Doge's Palace only by purchasing a single ticket for visiting 4 museums in Piazza San Marco or a Museum Pass.
Bell tower of San Marco
Opening hours: from 5 to 18 September 8.30–20.15; from 19 to 30 September 8.30-19.45; from 1 to 9 October 9.30-19.00, from 10 to 31 October 9.30-17.30; from November 1 to March 31 9.30-17.30; closed from 9 to 27 January; from 1 to 30 April 9.00-17.30; from May 1 to September 4 8.30 – 21.00. When bad weather conditions(fog, strong wind or cold) access to the bell tower is closed. Tickets can be purchased.
Popular cafes in Piazza San Marco
There are plenty of cafes and restaurants on St. Mark's Square. The most famous are " Florian" And " Quadri" The legendary cafe "Florian" is one of the oldest in Italy. It is believed that its history dates back to the 18th century! Its rich history and luxurious interiors have always attracted a sophisticated audience, including many famous personalities. Today, any wealthy tourist can touch the history and luxury of Floriana. Tables for customers are located right on the street. Traditionally, people come here to watch the sunset over a cup of aromatic coffee, which gradually hides behind the domes of San Marco Cathedral. But you will have to pay a lot of money for this pleasure - cafes are expensive.
Evening Piazza San Marco
- For an excursion to Piazza San Marco you should choose comfortable shoes, since you will have to walk a lot and possibly travel by boat. As you can imagine, this is not very convenient to do in heels.
- And when visiting the cathedral, do not forget about the dress code: clothes must cover your shoulders, shorts and miniskirts are not welcome.
- Piazza San Marco is famous for its large number of pigeons. You can feed them only with special pigeon food with a sterilizing agent. There is a fine for unauthorized sale of food.
- Many people come to Venice for just one day, and immediately from the station they rush to the heart of the city - to Piazza San Marco. In this case, the issue of luggage arises. For the convenience of tourists, the Cathedral of St. Mark the Apostle has a storage room - it is located on the northern façade and Piazzetta dei Leoncini. Large bags, backpacks and suitcases are not allowed into the basilica itself.
- As a rule, souvenirs in Piazza San Marco are overpriced, but move a little further from the square and you can buy the same things at a lower price.
- If possible, we recommend visiting San Marco early in the morning before the square is flooded with tourists. At this time, a very special atmosphere reigns there, and you can enjoy the beauty of the square without pushing through crowds of selfie-seekers.
- We also recommend exploring St. Mark's Square and Cathedral, as well as the surrounding attractions with our fascinating. Excursions along the most interesting routes are available on your mobile phone. Explore the city with inspiration!
Founded in 832 after the transfer of the relics of St. Mark from Alexandria to Venice. In 1063, construction of a modern building began, decoration with mosaics, and in 1094 the consecration of the cathedral. At the end of the 14th - beginning of the 15th century, the cathedral was decorated with spiers and sculptures. In the 16th century, the walls and domes were fortified by Jacopo Sansovino. In this photo on the right you can see the older stone walls of the cathedral from the 11th century.
The cathedral contains the relics of St. Mark the Evangelist.
The Apostle Mark was a younger contemporary of Christ. The young man who followed Christ, was taken into custody, and then ran away when the guards tried to capture him (Mark 14:51-52). St. Mark was then a companion of the Apostle Peter (1 Pet. 5:13), under his leadership he wrote the Gospel in approximately 62-63. in Rome. Then Peter sent Mark to preach to Aquileia, a city in northern Italy, where St. Mark founded the Christian community and installed the first bishop Ermagor. Also St. Mark preached in Egypt, and was killed by the pagans in Alexandria in 68 AD.
Saint Mark was especially revered by the Venetians because the inhabitants of the city were descendants of the citizens of Aquileia. In 828, the Venetian merchants Buono Tribuno with Malamocco and Rustic with Torcello, finding themselves in Egypt, came to venerate the relics of St. Mark in Alexandria. Here they witnessed the oppression of Christians and the destruction of churches by Muslims, and persuaded the clergy of the church where the relics of St. Mark were kept to give them to be transferred to Venice. In 829, Doge Giustiniano Partecipazio organized a solemn meeting of the relics, and under his son Giovanni, construction of the cathedral began.
The winged lion is a symbol of the Apostle Mark and Venice. The quadriga is a copy of one brought from Constantinople in 1204.
The western façade is decorated with mosaics commemorating the transfer of the body of St. Mark to the cathedral.
Mosaic from 1265.
Mosaic by Leopold del Pozzo based on cardboard by artist Sebastian Ricci. 1719
Mosaics based on paintings by the artist Pietro Vecchia, 1600
Muslim customs officers do not find the body of the Apostle Mark, hidden under the guise of a cargo of pork.
Appearance of Christ the Judge, mosaic by Libori Salandri after cardboard by Lattanzo Querena, 1836-38.
Mosaics dedicated to the life of Christ - made by Luigi Gaetano based on sketches by the artist Maffeo Verona, 1617-18.
Fragment of mosaic decoration. Notice the row of nails facing upward. This is a measure against pigeons.
Cathedral in rainy weather
Sometimes a puddle forms near the temple even in dry weather, and in rainy weather the vestibule floods.
Gothic decorations on the roof of the cathedral - statues of saints
Fragments of decoration of the southern facade.
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Lace thread
The Doge (ruler of Venice in a characteristic headdress) bows before the symbols of the Evangelist Mark.
The southern facade of the cathedral - view from the courtyard of the Doge's Palace.
Domes of St. Mark - view from the bell tower of the cathedral
You are not allowed to take photos inside. Tourists are trying, workers are arguing.
To comply with the rules, I took a photo from the balcony outside.
Of course, this photo will not reflect all the splendor of St. Mark's Cathedral.
Life and history of the transfer of the relics of St. Mark
