St. Mark's Basilica Architecture

Architecture of St. Mark's Basilica

The construction of the current St. Mark's Church began in 1063, but the foundations and some of the walls date back to an earlier church devoted to the saint. It was the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles in Constantinople that served as inspiration for the St. Mark's Basilica architecture being far larger than its predecessor. The new edifice followed the Greek cross plan, with the nave being somewhat longer than the transept. It was constrained on each end by the historical castle to the south and the Church of St. Theodore to the north.


 At the cross's focal point and atop each of the four arms, five massive cupolas were built. There is a central cupola supported by four pillars and articulated into the design by spandrels and huge vaults. Two aisles and a nave make up each arm of the cross. A hundred years after the church was finished, the atrium and cupolas were added. The first part of the 14th century saw the addition of the baptistery on the southern end of the church. An ancient chapel, sheltering St. Mark's body for centuries, is located in the crypt (nave and two aisles with apse) below the presbytery and the side chapels.

The Exterior of St. Mark's Basilica

Western Facade

As far as St. Mark's Basilica architecture is concerned it’s front has two distinct levels. Five highly recessed portals alternate with huge piers on the western façade's lower register. Two levels of valuable columns, primarily loot from the Fourth Crusade, were eventually used to cover the entire bottom register. In keeping with Byzantine customs, the sculpture is mostly ornamental, serving solely to highlight the arches that enclose the doors. Narrow Romanesque bands, statues, and finely carved borders of foliage combine with figures inspired by Byzantine and Islamic traditions to make up the very restricted sculpture on the lower level, which complements the reliefs in the spandrels. The tympana over the two outermost portals, one north, and one south, are the most affected by the orientation of the sun.


Must Read: History Of St. Mark's Basilica

Northern Facade

St. Mark's Basilica architecture comprises three symmetrical facades that radiate out from its lower body in the directions of north, south, and west. The well-known Porta dei Fiori, also known as the "Door of Flowers," is a relief of the Nativity from the 13th century that can be found on the north facade, which faces Piazzetta dei Leoncini.


Suggested Reads: St. Mark's Basilica Highlights

Southern Facade

A pair of ornate pillars known as the Pilastri Acritani stands in front of the building's southern front, which faces the Grand Canal. Porphyry sculptures of the Tetrarchy stand at this facade's corner, and a truncated Porphyry column known as Pietra del Bando also stands there. Rare marbles, treasures, and trophies adorn the southern façade, contributing to the ornate St. Mark's Basilica architecture. These include the so-called pillars of Acre, a monument of the four tetrarchs; set into the exterior wall of the treasury, and a porphyry imperial head perched on the balcony's south-western corner.


Recommended Read: Facts About St. Mark's Basilica

Entry Hall of St. Mark's Basilica (Zen Chapel)


Nothing is known about the original design of the southern entrance hall because it was redecorated around the thirteenth century when the adjacent narthex was also renovated. The story of Saint Mark's relics being brought from Alexandria, Egypt, to Venice is told in mosaics on the main façade, and this mosaic cycle in the barrel vault serves as an introduction to that story.


Angelic confirmation of Mark's eventual burial in Venice that validates the Republic of Venice's claim to the relics is also represented. The apse above the entryway leading into the narthex was presumably decorated with the Virgin surrounded by angels. This theme was popular in middle-Byzantine churches, in the first part of the twelfth century, but was extensively restored in the nineteenth century.


Also Explore: Horses At St. Mark's Basilica

Interior of St. Mark's Basilica

Chancel & Choir Chapels

Gothic in style, the altar screen dates back to 1394 and completely encloses the chancel. It features statues of the Virgin Mary and Saint Mark, as well as the Twelve Apostles, with a silver and bronze Crucifix at its summit. The area that would be the external aisles in the other cross arms is instead occupied by the two choir chapels, one on either side of the chancel. These arches not only link the chancel to the nave, but they also help to support the dome overhead by providing additional barrel vaults. Saint Peter is honored at the northernmost choir chapel. Throughout history, this has been the primary location for the clergy and an important part of St. Mark's Basilica interior. The events of Saint Mark's life, including the translatio, are shown in mosaics that decorate the vaults above the chapels. These artifacts are the earliest known record of the relocation of Saint Mark's remains to Venice.


Do Checkout: St. Mark's Basilica Dress Code

Side Altars & Chapels

The faithful generally visited the transept's side altars. The original altar, located in the northern crossarm, was dedicated to John the Evangelist; the mosaics in the dome above depict the saint as an old man, surrounded by five vignettes from his life in Ephesus. St. John the Baptist's stone relief, installed on the crossarm's eastern wall in the 13th century. When the altar was finally committed in 1617 to the Madonna Nicopeia, a celebrated Byzantine image from the late eleventh/early twelfth century, it was likely then that the icon was relocated to its current location on the church's northern façade.


From 1348 to 1355, the Chapel of Saint Isidore was built in Venice to contain the relics of Saint Isidore of Chios, which had been forgotten for centuries after being delivered to the city by Doge Domenico Michiel from 1117 to 1130 upon his return from a military mission in the Aegean. In the liturgical calendar of Venice, the 16th of April was also designated as an annual feast. The Mascoli Chapel was dedicated in 1430 and decorated during the reign of Doge Francesco Foscari (1423-1457). The eponymous confraternity began using it in 1618.


You May Also Like: Pala D'Oro In St. Mark's Basilica

Baptistery

Baptistery, being an intrinsic part of St. Mark's Basilica interior was built during the reign of Doge Giovanni Soranzo, who reigned from 1312 to 1328 and whose grave may be found within the building. Doge Andrea Dandolo, who paid for the baptistery's elaborate ornamentation himself, is also buried there. Both the life of Saint John the Baptist and the infancy of Christ are depicted in the mosaics that adorn the walls of the ante-baptistery and the baptistery proper. Sansovino's bronze font stands in the center of the dome, and above it are several representations of the Apostles performing the sacrament of baptism for persons of different ethnicities, a homage to Christ's command to spread the Gospel to all nations.


Must Read: Inside St. Mark's Basilica

Sacristy

As the consulting architect and works manager, Giorgio Spavento created a new sacristy in 1486 that was linked to the choir chapel and the presbytery of Saint Peter. The original sacristy's whereabouts are unknown. Spavento's lone completed project also happened to be his first. It all started decorating in 1493. Antonio della Mola and his brother Paolo inlaid the cabinets used to store reliquaries, monstrances, vestments, as well as other liturgical artifacts and books, with scenes from the life of Saint Mark. Titian conceived of and oversaw the creation of the Old Testament prophet mosaics that adorn the vault of the dome, which were installed between 1524 and 1530.


Do Checkout & Book: St. Mark's Basilica Tours

Dome

Each of the five basilica domes constructed at the intersection and above the arms of the Greek cross has a diameter of nearly 13 meters and 16 windows. The gold mosaics inside the domes date to somewhere between 1160 and 1200 and literally enliven the St. Mark's Basilica architecture. The center dome represents Christ's ascension into heaven after his resurrection. Although the dome's iconography has some Western influence, the primary style is unmistakably Byzantine, representing Venice's powerful and lucrative trade ties to the Eastern Roman Empire.


Also Explore: St. Mark's Basilica Paintings

St. Mark's Basilica Ticket Deals

FAQ's

Why is St Mark's Basilica famous?

St. Mark's Basilica is well-known as a place of worship in Venice besides being renowned for housing the remains of Saint Mark himself.

Also Read: St. Mark's Square

What is the best time to visit St. Mark's Basilica?

The best time to visit St. Mark's Basilica is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. These times typically have fewer crowds and shorter queues, allowing visitors to appreciate the stunning architecture and intricate details of the basilica in a more peaceful atmosphere. Additionally, visiting on weekdays rather than weekends or during peak tourist seasons can enhance the overall experience.

Where is St. Mark's Basilica located?

St. Mark's Basilica stands in St. Mark's Square, known as Piazza San Marco in Italian, which is the principal public square of Venice. The basilica is situated at the eastern end of the square, adjacent to the Doge's Palace.

What is the Architectural style of St Mark's Basilica?

St. Mark's Basilica architecture is a perfect mix of Byzantine architecture and Italian Gothic architecture.

Why was Saint Mark's Basilica built?

St. Mark's Basilica was constructed so that Venetian traders could bury Saint Mark's body, which had been smuggled in from Egypt.

Who built up the Saint Mark's Basilica?

Domenico Contarini is the architect who built Saint Mark's Basilica.

Is photography permitted inside St. Mark’s Basilica?

No, unfortunately! It is forbidden to take photographs or make videos inside the Basilica.

What are the best places to visit In Italy?

  1. Colosseum Rome
  2. Pantheon
  3. Castel Sant'Angelo
  4. Roman Forum
  5. Palatine Hill
thrillophilia-logo

Email Us: stmarksbasilica@thrillophilia.com

The content and images used on this site are copyright protected and copyrights vests with the respective owners.

© 2024 www.stmarksbasilica.com All rights reserved.