🦁 Basilica of San Marco, Venice
Italy
About This Sacred Site
The Basilica of San Marco is the cathedral church of Venice and one of the finest examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture in the world. Built to house the relics of St. Mark the Evangelist, which Venetian merchants smuggled out of Alexandria in 828 CE, the basilica is adorned with over 8,000 square meters of golden mosaics spanning from the 12th to the 19th century. The Pala d'Oro behind the high altar is a masterwork of Byzantine goldsmithing set with hundreds of gems. The four bronze horses on the façade were looted from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade in 1204.
Key Facts
- •Over 8,000 square meters of golden mosaics cover the interior
- •St. Mark's relics were smuggled from Alexandria in 828 CE, hidden under pork to deter Muslim inspectors
- •The Pala d'Oro contains 1,927 precious stones including rubies, sapphires, and emeralds
- •The four bronze horses were looted from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade (1204)
- •The floor contains over 2,000 square meters of intricate marble mosaic
Location
Coordinates: 45.4345, 12.3396
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