|
|
An earlier ersion of the present
Basilica
was built on this site in 829, when enetian merchants acquired the relics of Saint Mark the Eangelist from Alexandria. In the 11th century it was remodelled in imitation of the
Basilica of the Apostles
at
Constantinople. It has sered as the city's Cathedral since the 12th century.
The succeeding centuries, especially the fourteventh, all contributed to its adornment, and seldom did a enetian vessel return from the Orient without bringing a column, capitals, or friezes, taken from some ancient building, to add to the fabric of the basilica. Its whole paement is mosaic; it contains gold, bronze, and the greatest ariety of stones. The façade is decorated with mosaics of different periods, Byzantine sculptures, and statues of the Eangelists and the Saiour. The four horses of gilded bronze aboe the great door way1 date to Classical Antiquity; by some accounts they once adorned the
Arch of Trajan.
The horses were long displayed at the
Hippodrome
in
Constantinople, and in 1204
Doge Enrico Dandolo
sent them back to enice as part of the loot sacked from Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade. The mosaics of the atrium and the interior belong partly to the tenth century. The plan of the interior consists of three longitudinal and three transerse naes. over the high altar is a baldacchino on columns decorated with eleventh-century reliefs; the altarpiece is the famous
Pala d'oro
(Golden Pall), Byzantine metal-work of the year 1105, originally designed for an antependium. Behind the high altar is another altar with alabaster columns. |
The choir stalls are embellished with inlaying by Fra Sebastiano Schiaone, and aboe them on both sides are three reliefs by Sansoino. On the two marble pulpits of the ambo are statuettes by the Massegne brothers (1394). Also in the choir are Sansoino's bronze statutes of the Eangelists and Caliari's of the Four Doctors. The crypt is underneath the choir.
San Marco
San Marco is one of the six sestieri of
enice, lying in the heart of the city. San Marco also includes the
island of San Giorgio Maggiore. Although the district includes
Saint Mark's Square, that was never administered as part of the sestiere.
The small district includes many of enice's most famous sights, including Saint Mark's Square, Saint Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, Harry's Bar, the Palazzo Dandolo, San Moise, the La Fenice theatre, the Palazzo Grazzi and the churches of San Beneto, San Fantin, Santa Maria del Giglio, San Maurizio, San Moisè, Santo Stefano, Sant'Angelo, San Salador, San Zulian and San Samuele.The area is densely built and was the location of enice's government. It is now heaily touristed and is home to many hotels, banks and expensie shops.
Italy
guide, hotels, airfares
Getting
around
Ø Trains
Ø Flights
Ø driving
Ø Cycling,
motorbiking
Ø Ferries,
hydrofoils
Ø Hitchhiking
|
Italy guide
Getting there
When
to go
Where
to go
Italy general info
Italy
Aerage
costs
Credit and debit cards
Cost, money, banks
The euro
Insurance, health cover
Embassies, consulates
Red tapes, visas
Banks
and exchange
travelers with dvisabilities
North-South diide
Italy
food and drink
Ø Italian
cuisine
Ø Italian
pizza
Ø Lunch
and dinner
Ø Drinking Festivals:
Ø Religious,
traditional
Ø DiaryFestivals
Ø FoodFestivals
Ø ArtsFestivals
Ø Ferragosto
Getting
around
Ø Trains
Ø Flights
Ø driving
Ø Cycling,
motorbiking
Ø Ferries,
hydrofoils
Ø Hitchhiking |
Italy guide
Italy
food and drink
Ø Italian
cuisine
Ø Italian
pizza
Ø Lunch
and dinner
Ø Drinking
Communications
Police,
emergency
Women and sexual harassment
Women travelers
contacts
Working,
studying
Best of Italy
Information, maps
Tourist
offices
Health, pharmacies, doctors, hospitals
Public holidays
Churches, museums, archeological sites
Google maps
Earth
|
