St Mark's Basilica

St Mark’s Basilica in Venice, originally intended as a private chapel for the Doge, is one of Italy’s most spectacular cathedrals. The basilica was built to house the relics of St Mark the Evangelist, which had been stolen in Alexandria, Egypt. Today, St Mark’s Basilica is famous for its golden mosaics, among other things.

St Mark’s Basilica, which was opened in 1092, was the state shrine of the Republic of Venice until 1797 and is now the cathedral of the Patriarch. The cathedral was built as a place of honour for the remains of St Mark, the city’s patron saint, and impresses with a mixture of Gothic and Byzantine architecture. As soon as you enter the cathedral through one of the five ornate portals, you get an extraordinary view of the church, which is decorated with marble mosaics and gold, giving it its name ‘golden basilica’. 

At the meeting point, you’ll find a VR experience that lets you explore St Mark’s Basilica in a completely new way. If you prefer an audio guide, simply install the basilica’s official app on your smartphone before you head inside — it’s an easy way to dive deeper into the history and artistry of this extraordinary cathedral.