SAINT MARK’S BASILICA
The Saint Mark’s Basilica is the most majestic of Venice’s monuments. The actual Basilica was built in the Eleventh Century, over the remains of two pre-existing churches dated at Ninth and Tenth Century. The legend says that this Christian monument was built in the spot where an angel indicated to Saint Mark his burial place. The relics of the evangelist were led to Venice from Alexandria in 898 A.D. by two merchants, Buono from Malamocco and Rustico from Torcello, using a stalking-horse. These two men hid the relics into a basket with pork meat and vegetables inside, in order to avoid Muslim checks. When the body of the Saint got to Venice the Doge ordered the building of a new church as sepulcher.
The architecture of the Basilica contains three different styles: Roman, Byzantine and Venetian. There are a large number of medieval mosaics, with histories from both Old and New Testament. These mosaics coat the walls of the church and the naves’ vault. Grecian and Oriental marbles are everywhere. You can also admire a profusion of pinnacles and golden domes.