Visit The Basilica Di San Marco
Ticked off in October 2016
Step inside and look up at more than 8,000 square metres of gold mosaic, glowing in the half-light.
The adventure
From the square, the basilica is all domes, arches and coloured marble, crowned by gilded statues and four bronze horses prancing above the doorway. Step through the door and your eyes take a moment to adjust. Then the gold appears: domes and vaults covered in tiny glass tiles backed with gold leaf, shimmering in the dim light and telling Bible stories from the Creation onwards.
Under your feet the marble floor ripples in waves where the building has settled into the lagoon over the centuries. Behind the altar, the Pala d'Oro, a gold altarpiece studded with nearly 2,000 gems, glitters under the lights. Climb up to the museum and out onto the loggia, and you're standing beside the horses with the whole of Piazza San Marco spread out below.
Why it’s epic
- Venetian merchants smuggled the body of St Mark out of Alexandria in 828, reputedly hidden under pork to put off inspectors.
- The four bronze horses were brought from Constantinople after 1204; the originals are inside, with replicas on the façade.
- The Pala d'Oro altarpiece is set with nearly 2,000 precious stones and enamels.
- The Campanile next door collapsed in 1902 and was rebuilt as it was, reopening in 1912.
What it is
St Mark's Basilica is covered with golden Byzantine mosaics.
How to do it
Book a timed entry online. Shoulders and knees must be covered.
Top tip
Climb the Campanile across the square for a view over the city.
Need to know
- Entry is by timed ticket; book online, as summer queues can stretch across the square.
- Large bags and backpacks aren't allowed inside and must be left at a nearby deposit.
- Venice charges day-trippers an access fee on busy dates, so check whether it applies before you visit.
Plan this trip
- Rough cost
- £750 to £2,000 per person, including flights from the UK
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Best time to go
- November to March for fewer crowds
- Fly into
- VCE airport
Venice hotels are the big expense; the basilica is inexpensive, with small extras for the museum and Pala d'Oro.
Do it yourself
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My experience
Ticked off, but the full story is still to be written up.
Over to you
Is “Visit The Basilica Di San Marco” on your bucket list, or have you already done it? Tell me in the comments, and if you've got a question about it, ask away and I'll answer.