Visiting St Mark’s Basilica, Venice

St Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) in Venice is one of the most stunning cathedrals in the world. There’s often a long wait to get in, but it is absolutely worth it! Once inside you are greeted by a feast of colour. It’s actually very dark inside, but once your eyes have adjusted, you start to marvel at the decoration. Everywhere you look there is something beautiful to see. The current church is the third to exist on this site and it’s thought to date back to around 1063. The church was originally the chapel of the Doge and is connected to the Doge’s Palace next door.

One of the big highlights inside the Basilica are the 8000 square metres of mosaics which cover the walls, vaults and cupolas. They are really striking and depict many stories from the bible. Be warned that after a while of looking at the roof, your neck will start to ache, but you just can’t take your eyes off the mosaics. There are also plenty of ornate side chapels to see on your visit. The high altar (Pala d’Oro) of the Basilica di San Marco is universally recognized as one of the most accomplished works of Byzantine enamel, with both front and rear sides decorated in gold. This unique feature of the church can only be seen at an additional cost.

St Mark’s Basilica is open daily from 9.45am, with last entry at 4.45pm. Adult admission is 3 Euros (2025 prices) with a small additional fee for the Pala d’Oro and the Museum. You can “Skip the Line” to St Mark’s Basilica by taking an organised tout. We’d recommed the Venice Highlights Tour which consistently gets great reviews.

LOCATION & CONTACT

Address: St Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), Piazza San Marco, 328 30124 Venice, Italy.
Tel: +39 041 270 8311
E-mail: biblioteca.proc@patriarcatovenezia.it