St Mark’s Basilica in Venice, originally intended as a private chapel for the Doge, is one of Venice’s main attractions and one of the most spectacular cathedrals in Italy. The basilica was built to preserve 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.
Opened in 1092, St Mark’s Basilica 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 to honour the remains of the city's saint Mark and impresses with its mixture of Gothic and Byzantine architecture. As soon as you enter the interior of 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". St Mark’s Basilica is generally free of charge for all visitors during opening hours.
The building is made of layers of white marble and features various elements of Byzantine architecture. The basilica is famous for its floor plan in the shape of a Greek cross and for the use of an immense amount of gold for each of its attractions, which is why it is often referred to as the "Golden Church".
The church was built in the 9th century to house the holy relics of St Mark the Evangelist. Domenico Contarini, the architect of St Mark’s Basilica in Venice, was the 30th Doge of Venice.
St Mark’s Basilica has five large portals that are accessible from St Mark’s Square. Each of these portals is an architectural masterpiece in its own right and well worth a visit.
The floor of the basilica is made of marble and is decorated with geometric patterns as well as animal and floral designs. Discover the intricate patterns of peacocks, cockerels, foxes and other animals.
October–April:
Mon–Sat: 9:30am–5pm
Sun & public holidays: 2pm-4.30pm
April-October:
Mon–Sat: 9:45am–5pm
Sun & public holidays: 2pm–5pm
St Mark’s Basilica opens its doors at 9:30 am to 5 pm, Mondays-Saturdays, between the months of October and Easter Monday. On holidays during this time period, opening hours are restricted from 2 pm to 4.30 pm. From Easter to October, St Mark’s Basilica opens at 9:45 am and closes at 5 pm. On Sundays and on holidays, opening hours are extended from 2 pm to 5 pm.
Please be aware that final admission takes place 15 minutes before the end of opening hours. On certain religious days, St Mark’s Basilica may be closed or only open for a short period of time—for more information about this please visit the following website: basilicasanmarco.it
If you want to visit St. Mark’s Basilica, please make sure to choose the respective option when booking your Venice City Pass. Plan your visit and choose the date and time when you will be here. You will get the additional “Skip the line” ticket with your Venice City Pass.
Rialto C: Line 1, 2
S. Marco (Giardinetti): Line 2
S. Marco S. (Zaccaria): Line 6,21, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2
San Marco, 328 30100 Venezia, Italy
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If you want to visit St. Mark’s Basilica, please make sure to choose the respective option when booking your Venice City Pass. Plan your visit and choose the date and time when you will be here. You will get the additional “Skip the line” ticket with your >> Venice City Pass.
Free admission to Venice's museums, attractions, and tours. Free public transport can be added. Discounts included.
incl. VAT and service fees, free shipping via e-mail
