Basilica di San Marco
-
St Mark’s Basilica, a superb example of
the Romanesque-Byzantine style with five cupolas, was built (10thC) to house
the body of the St Mark the Evangelist.
The facade features five portals decorated in splendid marbles and mosaics,
and with a terrace dividing it into two halves.
On the terrace stand Four Horses of gilded copper (copies - the originals are
now preserved inside) that were sent from Constantinople to Doge Enrico
Dandolo in 1204.
Splendid mosaics in the atrium relate the stories of the Bible.
The imposing interior in the form of a Greek cross contains a wealth of
paintings and sculptures.
Of particular interest are mosaics of Veneto-Byzantine origin, some of them
reconstructed from drawings by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese.
The Bell Tower adjacent to the basilica was once a lighthouse for ships. At
the foot of the tower is a 16th century loggia by J. Sansovino.

Sansovino's Library
-
The
library has organized guided visits to the monumental Halls of Sansovino's
Library, reservation by phone (Dr. Elena De Mattia e Ms. Mariachiara Mazzariol,
tel. n. 0412407223 Sat. and Sun. from 9am - to 5pm). The monumental Halls of
Sansovino's Library belong to the St. Mark's Square integrated itinerary with
unique entrance at Correr Museum.

|