St. Mark's Basilica Rome

St. Mark's Basilica, Rome's architectural jewel, mesmerizes with its golden mosaics, Byzantine grandeur, and sacred relics of St. Mark.

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Visitor's guide

Must-see highlights & key info

Pro tips to help you make a pick

Admission to the Basilica is free, but visitors should expect to pay entrance fees during holidays or to special areas like the Pala d’Oro altar, the Treasury, St. Mark’s Museum and the Campanile.

Children under six can enter St. Peter's Basilica for free, with no ticket required, making it easier for families to visit together.

Tickets are timed, so plan carefully! For the best view of the golden mosaics, visit between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm, when they’re beautifully illuminated by bright light.

Consider purchasing tickets to the nearby Campanile (Bell Tower) to savor the incredible view. The extra €8 is worth it.

About St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark's Basilica is considered to be Venice's crown jewel. Seeped in fascinating history, its Byzantine mosaics, treasury, and marble inlays make it a must-visit attraction. With St. Mark's Basilica tickets, enjoy skip-the-line entry, guided tours, and combo experiences.

St. Mark's Basilica began as a daring heist in 828 when Venetian merchants snatched the body of St. Mark from Alexandria, Egypt, cleverly hiding it under layers of pork.

Boasting over 85,000 square feet of mesmerizing mosaics, the basilica's 13th-century artwork vividly depicts the perilous sea journey of the stolen relics.

With more than 500 Byzantine columns, some dating back to the 6th century, the basilica stands as a testament to grandeur and historical richness.

The Pala d’Oro, a Byzantine altar screen within the basilica, outshines royal jewels with its staggering count of 1,300 pearls, 300 emeralds, and various other precious gems.

The basilica's outer domes, creating its iconic shape, are ingenious illusions. They are wooden structures covered with lead, giving the impression of immense grandeur while maintaining the city's architectural constraints.

Why visit St. Mark's Basilica?

Magnificent architectural fusion

The iconic basilica is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, and Venetian Gothic styles, reflecting Venice's diverse cultural influences.

Pala d'Oro Altarpiece

Made from gold, enamel, and precious gems, the Pala d'Oro altarpiece is an important religious artifact and remarkable work of art that exemplifies Byzantine craftsmanship.

Strong historic connection

Symbolizing Venice's spiritual and political legacy, it consecrated the Dukes and holds the winged lion, emblematic of the city.

Precious treasures

The basilica houses a number of Venetian masterpieces, such as a Treasury housing ancient artifacts and rare manuscripts, bronze doors that feature scenes from the Bible and the sculpted marble columns inside the church.

Highlights

Pala d'Oro

The Pala d’Oro is an exquisite structure made of Byzantine enamel. It is globally recognized to be one of the most sophisticated and accomplished works with both of its sides decked with thousands of jewels and pearls.

St. Mark’s Campanile

St. Mark’s Campanile, a 99-meter bell tower located in Piazza San Marco, is an iconic symbol of Venice. With a simple structure featuring a square shaft made of fluted brick, it culminates in a pyramidal spire. Visitors can buy lift tickets for panoramic views of Venice and its lagoons from the top.

The Domes

St. Mark's Basilica has 5 cupolas — the Narthex, the Western dome, the Central dome, the Northern dome, and the Southern dome —all decked with golden mosaics that depict scenes from the Bible. The best place to view these domes is from the galleries near the museum.

Transept Chapels

There are several transept chapels in St. Mark's Basilica that are adorned with exquisite Byzantine mosaics, paintings, and marble sculptures. Some of the noteworthy ones are Cappella della Madonna dei Máscoli, Cappella della Madonna Nicopeia and Cappella di San Clemente.

Tomb of St. Mark

The putative corpse of St Mark is held at St. Mark's Basilica. The corpse was stolen and smuggled all the way from Egypt, by Venetian merchants. The main intention of constructing the basilica was to serve as a tomb for St Mark.

The Treasury

The treasury at St. Mark's Basilica houses of the most special collections of Byzantine portable objects. You will find reliquaries, liturgical vessels, and vestments used during religious ceremonies, many of them Constantinople.

Travel guides and tips

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