Explore the Inside of St. Mark's Basilica

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Step inside St. Mark’s Basilica, a beautiful cathedral located on the eastern end of St. Mark’s Square in Venice. Established in 1094, this minor basilica, the resting place of St. Mark, is visited by religious patrons and those fascinated by its architecture and elaborate mosaics. The basilica has Renaissance, Byzantine, Venetian, and Islamic influences that contribute to its one-of-a-kind and stunning facade and interiors. On this page, you will learn about the basilica’s exquisite interiors including its important rooms, spatial elements, historic artifacts, and mosaics. 

About St. Mark’s Basilica 

St. Mary’s Basilica is a minor basilica in Venice dedicated to the evangelist St. Mark, who is also the patron saint of the city. It is said that the body of St. Mark was extricated from Alexandria in Egypt by two Venetian merchants in 829 AD and brought to Giustiniano Participazio Doge. The basilica was later constructed by him as a reliquary church to hold the remains of the saint. After several political upheavals and historic wars such as the Crusades, the church has undergone 3 reconstructions. The opulent basilica we see today demonstrates the wealth and power of Venice under Doge Contarini in the early 11th century. Its interiors consist of magnificent domes and vaults with gold-grounded mosaics embodying Middle-Byzantine, Romanesque, and Islamic architectural styles. In fact, many of the artifacts inside the basilica, including the ‘Sack of Constantinople’, were looted from wars. 

Top Things To See Inside St. Mark's Basilica

Within the basilica, you will find that every mosaic tells a story, and every element is imbued with history. Here are a few things to keep an eye out for inside St. Mark’s Basilica.  

The Zen Chapel

The Zen Chapel

The Zen Chapel, dedicated to Cardinal Giambattista Zen who died in 1501, acts as a southern entry hall to the church. Here you will find a bronze arched gate from the late 5th century brought to Venice from Constantinople. The cycle of mosaics on the barrel vaults of the hall depicts the life of St. Mark in 12 scenes and narrates the predestination or angelic prophecy that Mark would one day be buried in Venice and the church’s divine right to possess the relics of the saint. There are other chapels in the transepts of the basilica as well, including the Chapel of Saint Giovanni which depicts the life of St. John, and the Cappella della Madonna Nicopeia which features the famous Byzantine icon of the Madonna Nicopeia.  

The Chancel

The Chancel

The chancel, located right before the apse at the furthest end of the church, is enclosed by a gothic altar screen that dates back to 1394. The intricately cast screen features silver and bronze statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Mark, along with the twelve disciples of Jesus. Behind this, you will find marble banisters that mark the beginning of the choir area that seated the Doge, aristocrats, and other civic leaders. Beyond the banisters is the presbytery, usually occupied by the clergy and presiding priests of the mass, in which the famous high altar Pala d’Oro is situated. On either side of the chancel are beautiful bronze reliefs of St. Mark, some depicting the miracles he performed. 

Pala d’Oro

Pala d’Oro

The altarpiece of St. Mark’s Basilica is widely considered one of the finest works in Byzantine enamel. Meaning ‘the Gold Cloth’ the Pala d’Ora is a flat 3x2 meter sheet of gold and silver in a gilded gothic frame. It consists of 187 enamel plaques and a whopping 1927 gemstones that include pearls, garnets, emeralds, rubies, and amethyst. It is divided into two sections. The enamels in the first section were created in 1209 and portray the Arch Angel Michael in the middle with six events from the life of Christ around it. The bottom half consists of Christ as the focal point and various scenes from the life of St. Mark. First commissioned in 976 by Doge Pietro Orselo, the high altarpiece has seen Byzantine and Venetian additions and alterations through the centuries.  

Mosaics

Mosaics

The intricately designed, gold-grounded mosaics are probably the first thing to grab your attention. There are 8000 mosaics lining the domes, archways, and vaults of the cathedral, and cover a surface area of 4,240 square meters. They have been described as essentially Byzantine in style developed over the 8 centuries of the basilica’s history, often depicting key biblical figures and the events of their lives. The mosaics also capture the history, ambitions, and faith of the city of Venice in a narrative style. Out of these the Christ Pantocrator in the apse, the Dome of the Creation in the narthex, and the Agony in the Garden are the most renowned. 

Floor Mosaics St. Mark's Basilica

Floor Mosaics

The tessellated floor of the cathedral is made of marble and limestone, most of which are line mosaics that cover 2099 square meters of floor space. Complying with the principles of bipartition, the floor depicts the earthly zone while the vaults and ceilings depict the heavenly or divine zone. Arranged to create ethereal geometrical forms (opus sectile) decorated with floral and animal motifs (opus tesellatum), the floor reflects techniques brought from Constantinople and Byzantine Greece. The rectangular herringbone mosaic of the nave is not to be missed. 

St. Marks Museum

St. Marks Museum

The museum, on the first floor of the building, was established in the 19th century and houses various important objects of the church.. The most valuable artifacts include the Triumphal Quadriga or the Horses of Saint Mark, a set of four bronze horses that date back from classical antiquity around the 2nd or 3rd century AD. You will also find rare Persian carpets, ancient priestly vestments, manuscripts with the texts of St. Mark, and ancient mosaics removed during the church’s restoration in the 19th century. There are also woolen tapestries that depict episodes from the Passion of Christ and others in silk and silver about the life of St. Mark.

The Treasury

The Treasury

The Treasury of St. Mark’s Basilica is located in ancient rooms between the church and the Doge Palace and contains sacred objects and reliquaries. Many of the Byzantine metalworks and enamels that were looted during the Fourth Crusade of 1204 are kept here. Other artifacts are said to have been taken by Venetians from the churches, monasteries, and palaces of the ancient city of Constantinople during ‘The Sack of the City’.

The treasury holds what is said to be a fragment of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified, an ampulla of the Precious Blood of Christ, and a relic of St. John the Baptist. In addition, it has 283 pieces of gold, silver, and ceramic artifacts including chalices and bowls of Byzantine and Islamic origin. 

The Tomb of St. Mark

The Tomb of St. Mark

Located underneath the presbytery, is a crypt that is said to have contained the smuggled body of St. Mark. Around 1063, in order to create a new basilica, several old buildings of the church were transformed into an underground crypt to act as the tomb of St. Mark. The relics were later transferred to the high altar of the church in 1835. There is some controversy as to whether the relics really belonged to the saint with some historians suggesting that they are the relics of Alexander the Great. The inside of the crypt is atmospheric and supported by columns and arches centuries old. 

Can I go Inside St. Mark's Basilica?

Yes, you can go inside St. Mark’s Basilica, and admission tis free between 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM. However, add-ons such as audio guides, skip-the-line entry, and guided tours that enrich your experience require tickets that are available on our website. Although admission to the church is free, you will need to buy tickets to view the St. Mark’s Museum and the Treasury separately.  

Plan Your Visit to St. Mark’s Basilica

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Guided Tour of St. Marks Basilica with Priority Entry
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Skip-the-Line Tickets to St. Mark's Basilica with Audio Guide
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Walking Tour of Venice with Priority Entry to St. Marks Basilica
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Venice Icons Tour: Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica with Priority Entry
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Walking Tour of Venice with Guided Tour of Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica
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Guided Tour of St. Mark's Basilica with Gondola Ride
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Visitor Tips

  • Visitors with motor disabilities or in wheelchairs can enter the Basilica and access the Treasury through the Porta dei Fiori porch, located in the north facade which is equipped with a platform.
  • Wheelchair users may access the museum located on the first floor by using a lift. 
  • While you are inside St. Mark’s Basilica, it is important to note that photographs and video recordings are not permitted except for private use. 
  • You will not be allowed to enter inside the basilica with large and bulky luggage. Therefore it is recommended that you deposit your luggage at your hotel before your visit. 
  • It is also important to observe the dress code while in the basilica, remembering to dress modestly.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Inside of St. Mark's Basiica Tickets

Q. What's inside St. Mark's Basilica?

 A. Inside St. Mark's Basilica are stunning mosaics, domes and tessellated marble floors. It also contains a crypt, a treasury and a museum that visitors can view. 

Q. Can you tour inside St. Mark's Basilica?

A. Yes, visitors can tour inside St. Mark's Basilica. You can either do this on your own or with the help of a tour guide.

Q. How big is <FKW>?

A. Park Güell is spread across 12 hectares, which comprises the monumental and accompanying forest areas.

Q. How big is St. Mark's Basilica?

A. St. Mark's Basilica is 43 meters in height and occupies a floor space of 76.5 m long and 62.6 m wide. 

Q. Can you take pictures inside St. Mark's Basilica?

A. Photography is permitted inside St. Mark's Basilica only for private use.

Q. Is it free to view inside the St. Mark's Basilica?

A. It is free to enter St. Mark's Basilica. However, skip-the-line tickets may help you get into the venue faster. Tickets will be necessary if you opt for tours as well.

Q. Is St. Mark's Basilica worth it?

A. St. Mark's Basilica is a must-see destination for those interested in Venetian and Byzantine architecture and history.

Q. Who designed St. Mark's Basilica?

A. St. Mark's Basilica was designed by several architects and under the patronage of Doges of Venice over the course of its construction.

Q. Where is St. Mark's Basilica located?

A. St. Mark's Basilica is located in Venice, Italy, on the eastern side of St. Mark's Square.

Q. When was St. Mark's Basilica built?

A. St. Mark's Basilica was built in the 11th century, but it has undergone many renovations , reconstructions and additions since then.

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