Saint Mark's Basilica

Saint Mark's Basilica

 or San Marco Basilica

Church in Venice built to house the remains of St. Mark. The basilica originally built for this purpose, begun in 829, was burned during a revolt in 976; the present structure, one of the most beautiful buildings in Europe, was completed in 1071. The plan is an Eastern symmetrical Greek cross (see church) surmounted by five domes. The design is distinctly Byzantine, and both Byzantine and Italian architects and craftsmen probably worked on it. The interior is decorated with mosaics on a gold background; the floor is of inlaid marble and glass. In the restricted light their colours glow fantastically. Over the centuries, the church has benefited richly from the addition of sculptures, mosaics, and ceremonial objects.