Page 89 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

BASILIC A SAN M ARC O  87

from the island of Chios and
transported to Venice in 1125.
To its left the Mascoli Chapel,
used in the early 17th century
by the confraternity of Mascoli
(men), is decorated with scenes
from the life of the Virgin Mary.
The altarpiece has statues
depicting the Virgin and Child
between St Mark and St John.
The third chapel in the left
transept is home to the icon
of the Madonna of Nicopeia.
Looted in 1204, she was
formerly carried into battle at
Noah and the Flood – atrium mosaics from the 13th century the head of the Byzantine army.
Sanctuary and Pala d’Oro Baptistry and Chapels
Beyond the Chapel of The Baptistry (open for
St Clement, tickets are sold to prayer only) was added in
view the most valuable treasure the 14th century by Doge
of San Marco: the Pala d’Oro. Andrea Dandolo (1343–54)
This jewel-spangled altarpiece who is buried here. Under
situated behind the high his direction the Baptistry
altar consists of 250 enamel was decorated with outstanding
paintings on gold foil, enclosed mosaics depicting scenes from
within a gilded the lives of Christ and John the
silver Gothic Baptist. Sansovino, who
frame. Originally designed the font, is buried
commissioned in by the altar.
Byzantium in The adjoining Zen Chapel
AD 976, the (open for prayer only) originally
altarpiece was formed part of the atrium.
embellished It became a funeral chapel for The revered icon of the Nicopeia Madonna,
over the Cardinal Zen in 1504 in return once a war insignia
centuries. for his bequest to the State.
Following the fall In the left transept of the
of the Republic, Basilica the Chapel of St Isidore, Treasury
Napoleon helped normally accessible only for Although plundered after the
himself to some worship, was also built by fall of the Republic and much
of the precious Dandolo. Mosaics in the barrel- depleted by the fund-raising
stones, but the vault ceiling tell the tale of the sale of jewels in the early
screen still saint, whose body was stolen 19th century, the treasury
gleams nevertheless has a precious
Statue of with pearls, collection of Byzantine
St Mark on the rubies, sap- silver, gold and glasswork.
iconostasis phires and Today, most of the
amethysts. treasures are housed in
The iconostasis, the a room whose remarkably
screen dividing nave thick walls are believed
from chancel, is adorned to have been a 9th-century
with marble Gothic tower of the Doge’s Palace.
statues of the Virgin and Exhibits include chalices,
Apostles, and was carved goblets, reliquaries, two
in 1394 by the Dalle intricate icons of the
Masegne brothers. archangel Michael and
Above the high altar an 11th-century silver-gilt
the imposing green reliquary made in the
marble baldacchino form of a five-domed
is supported by finely basilica (see p85). The
carved alabaster columns sanctuary, with over
featuring scenes from The archangel Michael, a Byzantine icon from the 100 reliquaries, is normally
the New Testament. 11th century in the Treasury open to the public.

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