About St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice
Tips To Visit St. Mark’s Basilica Venice
Location:
St. Mark’s Basilica is located at P.za San Marco, 328, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy.
Timings:
St. Mark’s Basilica's opening hours are between 9:30 am and 5:00 pm, except on Sundays and a few public holidays, when its opening hours are limited, and is generally open all across the year. Entry to the church is free and as such, you may find a long queue at the entrance and may be required to wait for quite some time. However, buying a ticket may help you skip the line and get a privileged entry.
Due to the religious nature of the Basilica, there are some dress codes to enter St. Mark's Basilica. Broadly, one has to cover their knees and shoulders, and as such, wearing shorts, sleeveless tops, or any such dresses is prohibited and one will not be able to enter the premises. Moreover, any kind of luggage including major electronic items will not be admitted into the church.
Best Views
There are numerous delightful structures like the porch, gallery, treasury, golden mosaic artworks, etc- in the church. For the best views, you will have to go to the gallery and will be able to get an amazing view of the city including nearby buildings like the Doge’s palace and Campanile.
Pigeons
St. Mark’s Square is also popular because hundreds and thousands of pigeons flock to this open place. Although feeding them is prohibited, the sight of them being present in such huge numbers is simply jaw-dropping and pleasant to watch.
Food & Drinks:
There are a myriad of cafes and restaurants located at St. Mark’s Square.
Access for the Disabled:
As for people with physical disabilities and wheelchair users, there are special tips to visit St. Mark's Basilica, Venice. Apart from the presence of lifts, they can access the Basilica through the Porta de Fiori, which is a special St. Mark's Basilica entrance located on the left side of the Basilica equipped with a ramp.
FAQ's
Who built St. Mark’s Basilica?
St. Mark’s Basilica is believed to have been built by Domenico I Contarini. He was the Doge or supreme leader of Venice in the 11th century and built it as a private chapel.
When did St. Mark’s Basilica open?
In its original form, St. Mark’s Basilica was built in 829 and was finally consecrated in 832.
What’s inside St. Mark’s Basilica?
There are wondrous things inside St. Mark’s Basilica - the treasury having the finest Byzantine relics, the stunning Pala d’Oro, the Basilica altar, the museum or Museo Marciano, the marble floor, and the most exquisite mosaics made of real gold showing many biblical events.
What are the St. Mark’s Basilica opening hours?
St. Mark’s Basilica is generally open between 9:30 am and 5:00 pm, except on Sundays and public holidays when it has shorter timings. The museum and the bell tower have different opening hours. Ensure that you are well-versed with the required details and tips to visit St.Mark’s Basilica, Venice.
What are the mass timings at St. Mark’s Basilica?
The mass timings of the Basilica are as follows -
Weekdays:
- 07:00 a.m.
- 08:00 a.m.
- 09:00 a.m.(Sung Mass of the Charter of the Canons preceded by the celebration of the praises)
- 10:00 a.m. (in baptistery)
- 11:00 a.m.
- 12:00 (suspended in the months of July and August);
- 06:45 p.m. (preceded by the celebration of Vespers and the rosary).
Sundays and holidays:
- 07:00 a.m.
- 08:00 a.m.
- 09:00 a.m.
- 10:30 a.m. (Sung Mass with brief remarks in various languages, St. Mark’s Chapel)
- 12:00
- 05:30 p.m. (Celebration of Vespers and Madonna Nicopeia procession with the chant of the litanies)
- 06:45 p.m.
Is it worth visiting St. Mark’s Basilica?
Yes, it's absolutely worth visiting St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice! The sight of this architectural beauty, the interior consisting of golden mosaics and marbles, the museums, the gallery, the porch and the treasures is simply delightful to watch and will push you into a state of awe. Make sure to get yourself acquainted with important tips to visit St.Mark’s Basilica, Venice.
Inside St. Mark's Basilica