Page 118 - DK Eyewitness Travel Guides - The World's Must-See Places

116 St. Mark's Basilica, Venice

This stunning basilica, built on a Greek-cross plan and crowned with five huge
domes, clearly shows the influence of Byzantine architecture (Byzantine Style,
seep. 148), which had been brought to Venice via the city's extensive links with
the East. The present basilica is the third church to stand on this site. The first,
built to enshrine the body of St. Mark, was destroyed by a fire. The second was
pulled down in the 11th century to make way for a more spectacular edifice,
built to reflect the escalating power of the Venetian Republic. In 1807, St.
Mark's succeeded San Pietro in the administrative district of Castello as
the cathedral of Venice; it had until then served as the
doge's chapel for state ceremonies.

Pentecost Dome
This was probably the first dome
to be decorated with mosaics. It
shows the Descent of the Holy
Ghost as a dove.

~ S t Mark and Angels

A St Mark and Angels Museo Marciano
The stawes crowning the central arch are
additions from the early 15th century.
~ Horses ofSt Mark
These four horses are
replicas of the gilded bronze
originals, now protected
inside the Museo Marciano.

Y Baptistry Mosaics
Herod's Banquet
(1343-54) is one of
the mosaics in a cycle
of scenes from the life
of St John the Baptist

vOne of the A Central Doorway Carvings
The central arch features
13th-century carvings of the
Labors of the Month.
-< Ciborium

-< Fa~ade Mosaics
This 17th-century mosaic shows
the smuggling out of Alexandria
of St Mark's remains, reputedly
under slices of pork to get them
...-..:-.~""'-_._...,....,...==--:.==-:!2:::.::::.._. past the Muslim guards.