Plan Your Visit to St. Mark's Basilica Venice

Plan Your Visit to St. Mark's Basilica Venice

Built-in 829, the church of Gold, St Mark's Basilica, is designed in Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic styles and has a multitude of domes. This treasure chest of wonders, located at the eastern end of St. Mark's Square replaced the previous cathedral of San Pietro di Castello as the episcopal seat of the Patriarch of Venice in 1807. This fascinating fusion of Architecture and art styles is evidence of the affluence and strength of the Serene Republic of Venice as well as its citizens who served as traders and conquistadors in the Mediterranean. St Mark’s Basilica is surely a glorious delight to the wandering soul of a history buff and an admirer of the artwork that trails the stories of the great church built over decades.

Timings
Location & Best Time to Visit
How to Reach
Facilities & Accessibility
Rules
Tips to Visit St. Mark's Basilica Venice
Timings

Opening Hours:

  • St. Mark's Basilica opening hours are from 9:30 AM to 5:15 PM for visitors, from Monday to Saturday.
  • Tourists are welcome from 2 PM on Sundays and other holy days of obligation.
  • Loggia dei Cavalli, the museum, is open on Sundays from 9:30 AM to 2 PM.
  • The Bell Tower at St. Mark's Basilica is open every day from 9:30 a.m. until 9:15 p.m.
  • You can use the Porta dei Fiori entry on the north side of Piazzetta dei Leoncini to enter the church. Every day, prayers begin at 8 AM and end at 7:30 PM.
  • On religious holidays, especially during Easter and Christmas, please make sure you are updated with the St. Mark's Basilica opening hours.


Last Admission:

  • Last admission time is 15 minutes from the closing time i.e. 4:45 PM at St. Mark's Basilica.
  • At 8:45 PM, the Bell Tower's doors are closed to visitors. 
Location & Best Time to Visit

Location:

  • St. Mark’s Basilica is located in Saint Mark's Square.
  • The closest landmark to the Basilica is the Doge’s Palace.
  • Complete Address - P.za San Marco, 328, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy


Best Time to Visit:

St. Mark's Basilica is a must-see as it is the spiritual center of Venice. The best time to visit St. Mark’s Basilica Venice is in May in the middle of the spring season. Perhaps, if your schedule conflicts and you want to avoid the busiest months in Venice, May, Then you can visit Venice in April, September, and October. Also, December and January are off-season with small waiting lines to admire the mosaics at their very best. You can plan your own best time to visit St. Mark's Basilica Venice according to the season you are most comfortable with but don't plan to miss the delight of discovering architecture at St. Mark's Basilica.

How to Reach

The best way to explore Venice is by ferry or on foot but you can always opt to travel by train or a car, below listed are some of the ways through which you can reach St. Mark's Basilica.


  • Ferry: You may get to the Ferrovia 'B' boat terminal, which is close to the Santa Lucia train station, by walking from the center of Venice. At the Rialto ferry terminal, board the No. 2 ferry and exit. It takes roughly 6 minutes to walk from the ferry dock to St. Mark's Basilica. The journey should take about 30 minutes but it will be worth the time is taken for the beautiful canal city Venice has a very scenic view for you to enjoy through your journey. 
  • Train: Santa Lucia is the nearest station to the Basilica, after you reach the station a water bus will take you to Basilica. Follow routes 1, 2, and 51 to reach there. The travel time is around 25- 35 minutes. 
  • Foot: The Basilica is roughly 40 minute's walk from Piazzale Roma if you intend to travel on foot.
  • Car: Parking is available for a fee at the Autorimessa Comunale, Garage San Marco, and Sant'Andrea on Piazzale Roma if you're driving to St. Mark's Basilica. St. Mark’s Basilica is located in the city center so you can reach there easily using any GPRS navigation system. 
Facilities & Accessibility

Facilities: 

  • At the Piazzetta dei Leoncini, a luggage storage facility is available for visitors.
  • There is only one restroom which is at the museum level.


Accessibility:

Rules
  • It is requested to use earphones or earbuds in the premises to maintain silence on the premises of the church.
  • Visitors with luggage are not allowed into St. Mark's Basilica.
  • It is required to dress appropriately according to the dress code of St. Mark's Basilica at all times.
  • The use of professional cameras is prohibited.
Tips to Visit St. Mark's Basilica Venice
  • The best Time to Visit St. Mark’s Basilica Venice is early morning, as it will be simpler for you to explore the entire church without being overwhelmed by people and in silence.
  • Wear water resistance footwear or boots as the church is surrounded by water irrespective of the season.
  • To discover the true history of St. Mark's Basilica, spend some time with each and every pillar, column, tomb, tower, etc. of the basilica.
  • Don't forget to visit the church museum to see St. Mark's hand preserved in a jar.
  • If you want to experience the Basilica's true beauty, try going there three different times throughout the day. In the daylight, the cathedral glows like gold; at dusk, it appears to be formed of copper; and at night, the cathedral has a whole other radiance.

FAQs

Why is St Mark's Basilica famous?

The St. Mark’s Basilica is famous for being the greatest and the oldest church of Venice with phenomenal architecture and buildings with the gold pieces of the mosaics inside the St.Mark's Basilica are made of the real gold which people come to see.

Is it worth visiting St. Mark’s Basilica?


One of the most popular attractions in Venice and a must-see on any traveler's Italy itinerary is St. Mark's Basilica is worth a visit. It's a church with a lot of fascinating tales and legends behind it, dating all the way back to the ninth century.

How long does it take to visit St. Mark’s Basilica?

The adequate time to explore the church is between 90 minutes and two hours. Both the museum and the balcony view are exquisite.On Sundays, the cathedral is open for mass and the museum opens at 9:30, although you must enter through the side door.

Can I visit St. Mark’s Basilica with kids?


Yes you can visit the St Mark's Basilica with kids, just be careful of them since the Basilica is way too crowded. Also, ask them to not touch the display items at the Basilica because if anything gets destroyed the church would fine you.

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

The best time to visit St Mark’s Basilica Venice is in the month of may i.e in the middle of spring. 

Can you take photos inside St Mark's Basilica?

Professional photography is prohibited inside the church however you can carry your mobile phones inside the church.

Why should I visit St. Mark’s Basilica?

You should visit St. Mark’s Basilica to witness its fascinating history, amazing mix of medieval artifacts, and architecture.

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.