St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark’s Basilica is a multi-domed Byzantine cathedral
which is situated in St. Mark’s Square, Venice. It is one of
the most recognizable churches, as well as the most iconic
and finest tourist attractions in Italy. The Church of Gold
has stood for centuries as an eye-catching significance of
wealth, culture and glory of Venetian Empire.

Golden mosaics in the St. Mark's The construction of the Basilica of St. Mark’s Basilica, which was carried out from 828 to 832, was made to house the
Basilica body of St. Mark which was known as ‘protector of the city’. In 10th century, the basilica then underwent restoration after being
burnt down during a revolt against the doge Pietro Candiano IV. The cosnstruction of the present basilica which began in 1063
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/04/93/6 was in eclectic gothic and arabesque to signify the prosperity and status of Venetian Republic. Over time, the basilica
1/049361bec05fbb86bc835c16fada25 underwent substantial modifications with the addition of sculpture, pointed Gothic arches, mosaics and ceremonial objects to
77.jpg increase its richness. (Steadman, -)

Marbles

The magnificent marble floors are tessellated in a geometric pattern with interspersed animal designs. There are also

about 8000m² gilded mosaics cover the walls, vaults and cupolas. Most of these mosaics incorporate gold glass tesserae which

creates a shimmering effect under restricted light. The lower register of walls and pillars is completely covered with

polychrome marble slabs and the cupolas were faced with higher lead cupolas to make it visible from a greater distance.

(Brooks, 2020)

Marble floor with interspersed animal designs.

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The great arches of the façade were covered with slabs or marble. Certain surfaces in well illuminated Apse columns of St. Mark's Basilica with
zones, such as the areas beneath the Pentecoast and Ascension cupolas, are faced with great slabs of Proconnesio Docimaean marble facing.
marble, one of the first marbles to be cut into slabs. (-, 2021) Besides, the Docimaean marble or pavonazzetto was
another marble with violet or reddish which was used in a privilege position, such as the apse columns. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co
mmons/e/eb/SanMarco-Interno01-
The floor of St. Mark’s features ‘opus sectile’ which obtained by setting out different colored marble SteO153.jpg
to create the most varied geometrical forms and ‘opus tessellatum’, which consists of joining small pieces of marble
or glass to form floral motives or animal figures. The interaction of the decoration with a dim, but with the changing
light in line with the time of day, bringing evocative and intense effects to viewers. (-, 2021)

'Opus tessellatum' floor

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Plan
Following the plan of the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople, the
basilica is laid out in a Greek cross which is consisted of a square central mass
with four arms of equal length. Greek-cross plan was primarily applied in
Byzantine churches, as well as functioned as the basis for many variations of
Byzantine church plans. (Anon., -)

Greek-cross plan of St. Mark's Basilica.
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Saint Mark the Evangelist Depiction of how the body of St. Mark was brought back to Venice.
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The body of St. Mark the Evangelist was smuggled out of Alexandria by basilica-of-san-marco-shutterstock_112999723.jpg?w=960&crop=10
two Venetian merchants who sought for a vivid patron saint. Doge
Giovanni Particiaco ordered to build the first chapel on the site in 828, in
order to house the body of Saint Mark. The journey of bringing St. Mark’s
remains back to Venice is depicted in the 13th-century mosaic over the
northernmost door on the west façade of the Basilica. (Guise, 2019)

Gold mosaics on the vaults. Gold Mosaics

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/18/f7/9f/18f79f3 Byzantine structures featured soaring spaces and sumptuous decoration. This can
b44215d8896538f05157e4b59.jpg be shown through the mosaics on the vaults, and gold ceilings in St. Mark Basilica.
(Britannica, 2020) The golden mosaics added in the 13th century functioned as a
physical expression of Venetian Republic’s political and economic status as well as
reinforce the sacred experience of the chapel. (Steadman, -) The gold background
is adorned with abundant iconography of Christian art, symbolizing the sacred and
the light of God.

Transept Chapels

There are multiple chapels situated in the short arms that extend at Scenes from the lives of Saint John
either side of the main dome, dedicating to the Madonna and other
saints. There are mosaics featuring stories from the life of St. John in https://c8.alamy.com/comp/DY1PKG/venice-mosaic-
the Cappella di San Giovanni, above the north transept. from-st-mark-cathedral-over-the-main-portal-jesus-the-

Transept chapels of St. Mark's Basilica. DY1PKG.jpg
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On the north transept, there is an altar in Cappella della Madonna Nicopeia showing the Byzantine icon of the Madonna Nicopeia (the
bringer of victory). The image of the Virgin symbolized the imperial throne and was believed to be a source of its power. Besides, the
area of the side is occupied by the chapels of St. Clement to the south. (headout, 2021) (-, 2021)

The Madonna Nicopeia
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Statues on top of the central portal

On the pinnacle of St. Mark’s Basilica is the Winged Lion holding a Bible, which
served as the symbol of the St. Mark. (contributors, 2021) It signifies the
Resurrection power, the majesty of Christ as well as the characteristics of his
Gospel. In addition, the figurine on top of the main portal depict Saint Mark and
the angels. (Kaye, 2016)

The Winged Lion and statues of Saint Mark with the angels.
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Triumphal arches with multi-colored columns

The Venetians created their own interpretations of triumphal arches on the
façade by placing multi-colored columns they brought back from
Constantinople near the Central Portal. These triumphal arches symbolized to
the Venetians the commemoration of their victory over the Byzantine Empire,
as well as their inheritance of the empire’s trading ports and land. Venetians.
Red-purple porphyry columns symbolized imperial status and represented the
Venetian power in the lands of the fallen Byzantine Empire. The columns
were placed on the façade of San Marco to signify the new, powerful and
victorious status of Venice within the Latin Empire. (Exhibit, 2011)

Marble columns in the Central
Portal of St. Mark's Basilica.

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Domes

Another distinctive feature of Byzantine architecture was the domed roof. There are five domes lifting at the intersection

and over the four arms of the Greek cross plan. The iconography of the dome is partially influenced by Western features,

but the dominant one is evidently Byzantine, signifying robust and gainful relationship between Venice and the Eastern

Roman Empire.

Domes of St. Mark's Basilica

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Roles of Doges

The basilica functioned as a palatine church or Ducal Chapel for about 1000 years which was coming directly under the Doge.
Since Doge Giustiniano Partecipazio received the body of St. Mark and ordered to build the first chapel at the site in the ninth
century, the doges had been directly responsible in every detail of the construction, rebuilding as well as maintenance of the
basilica. The Doge himself was the main celebrant in St. Mark’s Basilica though in the liturgies this role was occupied by the first
of basilica’s canons. (-, 2021)

Doge Giustiniano Participazio
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Horses of St. Mark

Horses of St. Mark, also known as the Triumphal Quadriga, is a set of
Byzantine bronze statues of four horses which was set on the terrace
above the central portal of the basilica in 1254. They are among the
treasures from the Holy Land, which is considered as an iconic sign for
the Venetian Republic to emphasize the power and freedom. (Venice, -)

The Winged Lion and statues of Saint Mark with the angels.

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Gold ceiling

The St. Mark’s Basilica’s enormous expanse of ceiling was entirely covered
with gold as a proof of Venice’s robust economy development. While the
specific geographic source of the gold for the basilica remains unknown, it is
believed that it came through the Venetian control of the eastern shipping
routes. The Venetians would have dominated majority of the commerce of the
gold throughout the Mediterranean and Europe. The shimmering gold mosaics
inside the basilica emphasize the wealth and glory of Venice. (Steadman, -)

Ceiling of the basilica was entirely covered with gold.
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Byzantine architectural style of St. Mark’s Basilica. Byzantine architectural style
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The design of St. Mark’s Basilica was mainly influenced by Byzantine style
x510.jpg because Venice was a main trading port which controlling trade routes to the
east, hence bringing goods as well as artistic influences back. The Venetians
crippled the growth of the great Empire yet they found out themselves as
inheritors to Byzantium and sought for new commerce, diplomatic relations and
pilgrimage with the East. They had trade relation with Byzantium as compared
their bond with the Italian mainland. (Steadman, -)

Roles of pilgrims

St. Mark’s Basilica was a point of reference for traveling merchants and sailors by land
and sea. The pilgrims embellished the basilica with precious gifts, marbles, gold and art
treasure., with the wish to remain the basilica great and rich as testimony of the glory of
Venice. The wealth of the treasury of St. Mark’s Basilica expanded throughout the
centuries and accommodated the superior collection of sacred and valuable resources
across Europe. (Steadman, -)
.

Treasures from pilgrims
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ST. MARK’S BASILICA The church officially becomes the cathedral church of
Venice. The golden Byzantine mosaics adorning the
cathedral earned it the title of ‘Church of Gold’.

1807

1071

The current basilica with distinct
Byzantine design was consecrated.
The basilica is laid out in Greek cross,
with five domes erected on the
basilica.

828 976 1063

The relics of St. Mark were smuggled out The church was burned during a revolt The third and present basilica
of Alexandria by Venetian merchants. The against the doge Pietro Candiano IV. was constructed.
Doge ordered to build the first basilica to
house the body of St. Mark. The basilica 978
built beside the Doge’s Palace also served
as the doge’s chapel. Restoration and rebuilding of St.
Mark’s Basilica began.

The basilica as we know today had underwent several modifications, resulting
in a stunning and alluring blend of styles. St. Mark’s Basilica is truly an
intriguing integration of architectural and art styles. It is also a physical
testimony to the richness and power of the Venetian Republic.

• -, 2021. [Online] • Exhibit, 2. V., 2011. The Marble Columns. [Online]
Available at: http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/basilica/architettura/il- Available at: https://venice11.umwblogs.org/the-marble-columns/
pavimento-tessulare/?lang=en [Accessed 10 Feb 2021].
[Accessed 08 Feb 2021].
• Guise, L. d., 2019. Grave robbers in gondolas: How the remains of St. Mark
• Anon., -. Art: Ascension Dome from the Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark’s came to be in Venice. [Online]
Basilica). [Online] [Accessed 10 Feb 2021].
Available at: https://www.learner.org/series/art-through-time-a-global-
view/cosmology-and-belief/ascension-dome-from-the-basilica-di-san-marco- • headout, b., 2021. The Remarkable Architecture of St. Mark's Basilica in
st-marks-basilica/ Venice. [Online]
[Accessed 09 Feb 2021]. Available at: https://www.st-marks-basilica.com/st-marks-basilica-
architecture/
• Britannica, T. E. o. E., 2020. Byzantine architecture. [Online] [Accessed 10 Feb 2021].
Available at: https://www.britannica.com/art/Byzantine-architecture
[Accessed 09 Feb 2021]. • Kaye, T. M., 2016. Epc final assignment. [Online]
Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/Tung97Michelle/epc-final-
• Brooks, M., 2020. St Marks Basilica. [Online] assignment
Available at: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/St_Marks_Basilica [Accessed 13 Feb 2021].

• contributors, W., 2021. Lion of Saint Mark. [Online] • Steadman, -. Imperialism, Economics. [Online]
Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_of_Saint_Mark Available at: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/56326441.pdf
[Accessed 13 Feb 2021]. [Accessed 12 Feb 2021].

• contributors, W., 2021. Porphyry (geology). [Online] • Venice, I. o., -. The Four Horses of St Mark’s. [Online]
Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyry_(geology) Available at: https://imagesofvenice.com/the-four-horses-of-st-marks/
[Accessed 12 Feb 2021].