Explore the famous St. Mark’s Basilica and wonder at its majestic architecture
Be amazed by biblical depictions made from golden mosaics over an area of 8,000 square meters
Stroll around this millennia-old cathedral and admire the beauty of 5 domes of St. Mark’s Basilica
Learn about the artwork, history and significance of St. Mark’s Basilica with help of a guide
Step into the rich history of Venice with a Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Basilica Combo, exploring two iconic landmarks in one tour
Marvel at the breathtaking architecture of Doge's Palace, once the residence of Venetian rulers, and uncover its hidden stories and grandeur
Admire the sacred beauty of Saint Mark's Basilica, decorated with stunning mosaics and beautiful artworks showcasing the brilliance of Byzantine architecture
Witness the remarkable paintings that grace the walls of Doge's Palace, portraying captivating tales and offering a glimpse into Venetian heritage
Visit St. Mark's Campanile, the bell tower of St. Mark's Basilica in Piazza San Marco
See the panoramic view of Venice from the top of the St. Mark's Campanile
Learn the history of Venice with the help of a downloadable audio guide
Click stunning images of the location where Galileo Galilei unveiled his revolutionary invention, the telescope!
The decorative program of the fundamental altar in St. Mark’s Basilica consists of mosaics of the late-11th and early-12th centuries distributed among three windows. The ancient mosaics in St. Mark’s Basilica date back to as early as the 1070s. Each of the mosaics in the structure of the cathedral looks so interesting and beautiful that you would want to keep on looking at them forever.
There are different types, origins, and epochs of sculptures in St. Mark’s Basilica Venice that show the richness of the 12th and 13th-century French cathedrals. Each of these sculptures, included in the St. Mark’s Basilica Venice Tickets, are created for their intended place or are surviving from a pre-existing building. These sculptures include a blend of trophies and ornamental elements with the integration of the mosaics.
With the St. Mark’s Basilica Venice Tickets, you will come to know that the church is a treasure trove of gold and silver work, ornamental glass and paintings, and valuable stones. The cathedral also consists of highly refined items created for the churches and structures of Constantinople. The Pala D’oro is situated near the tall altar where the relics of the Evangelists were enshrined.
Also checkout St. Mark's Basilica Paintings
Created at the end of the 19th century, St. Mark’s Museum is another place included in the St. Mark’s Basilica Venice Tickets. It consists of the different kinds and origins of the objects belonging to the church. The museum houses one of the most valuable works of the quadriga, along with the illuminated manuscripts, Persian carpets, liturgical vestments, fragments of ancient mosaics, and the texts of St. Mark’s liturgies.
Standing at a height of 99 meters, the Campanile is the revealing square plan tower in St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. It is a prototype of all the campaniles that was initially a watchtower, which later transformed into a weather clock with the addition of the belfry and embellishment of the statue of the Archangel Gabriel at the top.
Must Checkout: St Marks Campanile
The Music Chapel in St. Mark’s Basilica is the center of attraction of Venetian musical life. The ways and style of considering music during that time depended on the suitability of the magnificence of the Basilica. In this period, numerous great Renaissance composers took part in the life of the Chapel and created the instrumental parts with melodic lines in the Basilica.
The Essential Chronology in St. Mark’s Basilica includes the events of the construction of the basilica in chronological order. Starting from 829 when the body of St. Mark was brought from Alexandria to Venice to 1807 when the basilica became the center of attraction of the Venice Patriarch, you will find everything in this Essential Chronology.
The Entry Hall or the Zen Chapel in St. Mark’s Basilica architecture showcases a mosaic cycle in the barrel vault that tells the stories of Saint Mark’s relics, translating from Alexandria to Venice. These relics display events like the praedestinatione that narrates the burial of the angelic prophecy of Mark.
Chancel and choir chapels- The chancel in the interior part of the St. Mark’s Basilica architecture is covered with a Gothic altar screen, topped with a bronze and silver Crucifix. Here, you will find the statues of the Virgin and Saint Mark, along with the Twelve Apostles. Moving further, you will come across two choir chapels on either side of the chancel.
Side altars and chapels- The faithful were the prime user of the side altars in the transept. The altar in the northern crossarm is dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist, while the altar in the southern crossarm praises the name of Saint Leonard. The Mascoli Chapel was also embellished under Doge Francesco Foscari which was initially used by the homonymous confraternity.
Baptistery- The construction date of the Baptistry remains unknown, but it is likely that Doge Giovanni Soranzo had been responsible for the architectural construction of the structure. The mosaics in the Baptistry provide glimpses from the life of Saint John the Baptist and the infancy of Christ.
Sacristy- The Sacristy was constructed by Giorgio Spavento in 1486. The cabinets used in the Sacristy were utilized for keeping vestments, monstrances, reliquaries, and liturgical books and objects. In the walls of the Sacristy, you will find the mosaics that depict the prophets of the Old Testament and are adorned by Titan between 1524 and 1530.
The architecture of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice took inspiration from the Gothic period which was limited to decorative details and patterns. You can find instances of it in the painted wall decoration and portal in the Church of Madonna dell’Orto and the Church of Santo Stefano. Although the classical elements of Venetian architecture were introduced in the early Renaissance period, the local building traditions prevailed for a long time.
If you are on a tight schedule and wish to save time wherever possible in your schedule, you should purchase the skip-the-line St Mark's Basilica tickets. This will help in saving the time spent standing in the long queue outside the ticket office. Another way you can quickly take a guided tour.
To learn as much about the history, culture and art of the cathedral as possible, you must purchase the St Mark's Basilica Venice tickets for a guided tour. You can either opt for the Venice In A Day: Guided Tour with Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica or you can go for the St. Mark's Basilica Skip The Line Guided Tour.
If you want St Mark's Basilica to be combined with your tour of the city of Venice, you can opt for the combo St Mark's Basilica tickets. This tour will include the prominent attractions of the city and some of them will have skip-the-line access.
St. Mark's Basilica, an architectural gem nestled in Venice's heart, epitomizes Byzantine grandeur and Venetian opulence. Its intricate façade, adorned with intricate mosaics depicting biblical scenes, dazzles in the sunlight. The basilica's domes and arches echo an era of artistic and cultural fusion. Constructed in the 9th century to house St. Mark's relics, it symbolizes Venice's spiritual and political prowess. Intricately designed marble floors, gilt-edged ceilings, and priceless treasures within convey the city's historical significance as a trading hub. St. Mark's Basilica stands as a testament to Venetian craftsmanship, faith, and enduring allure.
Location:
St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) is situated in Venice, Italy, at the heart of Piazza San Marco, the city's main square.
Timings:
The basilica is open to visitors from Monday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5:15 PM. On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the basilica is open from 2 PM to 5:15 PM
Check out these important information before you plan your visit to St. Mark's Basilica
Although Venice remains packed with tourists throughout the year, the best time to visit St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice is between September and November, right after the summer season. During this time, the temperature remains as low as 15 degree Celsius, you will find less crowd, and the hotel prices become cheaper. As far as the weekends and weekdays are concerned, you must visit the attraction on weekdays to avoid long lines of tourists.
Also Checkout: tips to visit St. Mark's Basilica
Why is St Mark's Basilica famous?
St Mark’s Basilica is well-known for its collection of holy relics of the patron saint of the city, Saint Mark the Evangelist. Situated next to the Doge’s Palace, it is one of the most spectacular cathedrals in entire Europe due to its beautiful architecture. This church has always been the center of attraction for tourists in the city.
What are the nearby attractions to St. Mark’s Basilica Venice?
The nearby attractions to St. Mark’s Basilica Venice are St. Mark's Square, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark's Campanile, St Peter's Basiliaca Torre dell’Orologio, and much more. Apart from this, there are plenty of local restaurants, shops, museums, and canals near St. Mark’s Basilica that are worth giving an eye to on your trip to Venice.
Are St. Mark’s Basilica Tickets available online?
Yes, St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice tickets are available online. You can reserve your seats by booking the tickets online on our site. You’ll be presented with great deals and discounts, along with reserving your seats in advance.
How long does it take to visit St. Mark’s Basilica?
It will take you anywhere between 90 minutes and two hours to explore the entire St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. Within this time frame, you will gain in-depth knowledge about the museum and its architecture. You can also glance at the various exhibits of the museum at this time.
What are the St. Mark’s Basilica opening hours?
The opening hours of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice are between 9.30 am and 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays or public holidays, the attraction closes at 4.30 pm between April 16 and October 28. The time is again extended to 5 pm between 29 October and 15 April. Moreover, the last entry to the attraction closes 15 minutes before the closing time. The opening hours may be subject to change on religious holidays, especially during Easter and Christmas.
Should I pre-book a ticket for St Mark's Basilica?
Yes, you should pre-book St. Mark’s Basilica Venice Tickets if you want to excruciatingly skip the long queues at the Basilica entry. The priority access tickets to the attraction are available at EUR 2. However, it is just an entry ticket and it will not include the tour of the attraction and its nearby destinations.
Yes, you can purchase the St Mark's Basilica tickets online and enjoy getting fabulous discounts. To get the best offer, you should check the various ticket options that are available to visit the place. Some of the options for St Mark's Basilica Venice tickets which you can select to avail of a discount include Doges Palace And Saint Marks Basilica Combo, Venice In A Day: Guided Tour with Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica, and St. Mark's Basilica Skip The Line Guided Tour.
The St Mark’s Basilica, also known as the ‘Golden Church’, is a stunning church which showcases the captivating Byzantine architecture in its 5 domes, intricate golden mosaics, and ornate marble flooring. The Basilica is also known for its rich history and culture, as well as for the stunning Venetian artwork and historic relics that are housed inside the place.
By Car: If you're driving to St. Mark's Basilica, you will be able to park your car at Piazzale Roma. The place has three paid parking facilities - Garage San Marco, Autorimessa Comunale and Sant’Andrea which you can use.
By Train: Get down at the Santa Lucia station and take a water bus to the Basilica. Opt for routes no 1, 2, and 51 which will take you there in approximately 25 to 35 minutes.
By Bus: You can take the bus to reach the Basilica. Buses are available from the airport at a frequency of every 30 minutes.
Via Ferry: You can take a direct ferry to Rialto ‘B’ and then walk down to reach the destination.
There are several facilities that you can avail once you enter with your St Mark's Basilica tickets. They are:
No, photography or any filming of any video is strictly forbidden inside Saint-Mark Basilica in Venice. You will only be able to explore the basilica with your St Mark's Basilica tickets, you will not be able to capture the beauty of the place with your cameras.
Yes, it is definitely worth visiting St. Mark’s Basilica. The Basilica, also known as “Golden Church” is well known for its Byzantine architecture and is one of the iconic attractions of Venice. The Basilica is also famous for its rich history and culture and also houses some priceless artwork which includes historic relics and Venetian artwork.