"It is all GOLD when visiting the Basilica of San Marco."

Inside the Venice Basilica of San Marco

The Basilica of San Marco is thanking her name to Saint Evangelist Marcus.

His remnants and relics were brought here by the Venetian. Before this, it was a chapel for the doge from the Doge Palace.

Basilica di S. Marco is open from Monday to Sunday from 9:45 am to 4:45 pm (Sundays from 14:00 to 16:00). The Basilica interior is free to visit and will take about 15 minutes. 

A rope delimits the section. Be careful not to wear clothing with too much exposure. You can visit the golden altar (Pala d'Oro) for EUR 2, - p.p.. Lots of gold and bling! 

St. Mark's Basilica, together with the Doge's Palace, is one of the most visited sights in Venice. No trip is complete without seeing it. The line outside is often very long, regardless of when you are waiting in line. 

TIP: book skip-the-line tickets in advance, and don't waste time in line. You can use the extra time you have received to eat a natural gelato ice cream (that's what I did!).

Basilica di San Marco from above

The Basilica of San Marco Museum shows you the treasures the Doges have collected. You can go up on the balcony at the front of the Basilica and have a view of San Marco Square.

Entrance costs EUR 5,- p.p. This museum is worth visiting.

The treasure room (Tesoro) costs around EUR 3, - p.p. With lots of stuff and well-known remains from the Venice trade history. Visit the website www.basilicasanmarco.it for more information. Note: If you see Basilica by yourself, you need two hours.

And to plan and schedule, I have for you... 

The best time to visit the San Marco Basilica

Please look closely to the front MOSAIC !

If you are in high season, you will see long queues. But the rows are going fast. You rarely wait for more than 20 minutes. Do you want to bypass the line? Check how > 

Decorations on the Basilica of San Marco

Of course, you'll have to wait less if you're neat at 9:45 pm when the basil is open. But, even at the end of the day, there will be no waiting line. It will come with the hustle and bustle. 

TIP! Stop at the front of St. Mark's Square. Look at the façade, and you will see the different mosaics each portrays. Each has its own story. 

TIP! Maybe good to do. The basilica is open for prayer between 7:00 and 9:45 in the morning. The entrance is at the Piazzetta dei Leoncini.

The door is on the left if you are in front of the basilica. Wear clothes which fit a church and don’t bring to conspicuously your camera ;).

History of the Basilica of San Marco in a nutshell

Front of the Basilica from the San Marco Square

In 828, Venetian traders took the relics of the evangelist Marcus from Egypt (Alexandria). They smuggled them into a barrel of pork fat to mislead the then-ruling Muslims. The treasure caused the basilica to become a pilgrimage. And this led to more trade.

With this extra income, the basilica became more prominent and more beautiful to keep all the treasures.

The present basilica dates back to the year 1071. The marble floor, the precious ornaments, and the golden mosaic give the basilica an oriental mysticism. In the Tesoro (church treasury), the Byzantine loot is preserved from 1204—rare beauty.

Because the basilica is next to the Palazzo Ducale, faith and politics have been used together many times. For example, Venetians who came to the basilica knew very well that not the Pope but the Doge was the boss. And that was often made known to them.

Basilica di S. Marco is a war-filled museum with beautifully decorated pillars. It is the treasury of the former republic of Venice. For the Venetians, it will always remain their Basilica of Venice. Venice collected beautiful gold and luxury from all over Europe over the years. It is to show what kind of wealth they had.

On the west side of the Basilica, you will see the bronze (copies) horses from Constantinople (from the year 1204). The beautiful thing is that you can admire them close to the balcony/gallery where they are located, and you have a view over Piazza San Marco. Inside are the real golden horses.

You have read about Basilica di S. Marco in Venice. There is enough to discover as you read. Discover my site about Venice and get more information about this beautiful Italian city.

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Continue reading:

• Bridge of Sighs Venice >
• The Accademia Bridge >
• Accademia Gallery Museum >
• Palazzo Grassi Museum >
• The Rialto Bridge >
• Basilica San Marco >
• Canal Grande Venice Italy >
• Piazza San Marco (Square) >
• Ride a Venetian Gondola >
• Secret view from bell tower on San Giorgio >
• Concert & Opera in La Venice >
• The Famous Venetian Glass from Murano >
• The Doge Palace >
• Going to Burano Island >
• Going to Torcello Island >

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