St Mark's Basilica
St. Mark's Cathedral is located in Northern Italy, or rather in the beautiful city of Venice. Today, it is a unique cultural monument, where very interesting exhibits are collected. This cathedral stands on the main square of Venice, which bears the name of St. Mark's Square. Nearby, there is a great monument - the Doge's Palace.
St. Mark's Cathedral is a prominent representative of Byzantine architecture. Small mosaics decorate the walls of the cathedral, which emphasize this style. The date of completion of the construction of this Italian landmark is considered to be 829. It was built during the reign of Doge Giustiano Partecipaci. The main function of the cathedral is to preserve the remains of the patron saint of this city, St. Mark. In 927, a fire broke out here and destroyed part of the building, which Domenico Contarini finished reconstructing in 1071. Under Domenico Selvo, who was appointed doge a little later, this temple began to be transformed with various decorations, including mosaics and marble. Over the years, the temple has been constantly updated and changed its appearance. Various architects carried out work on marble wall cladding, dome decoration, and the addition of chapels and baptisteries. The cathedral played a very important role in the political, religious and social life of the city. The most important ceremonies were held here, which are associated with the public proclamation of the new ruler, the meeting of important guests of the city, as well as other official ceremonies (the farewell of the troops before the military campaign).
St. Mark's Cathedral is made in the form of a Greek cross, above which rise five domes decorated with golden mosaics. The floor, as well as the supporting columns, is decorated with dark greenish marble. The relics of St. Mark are, of course, under the world-famous main altar, which is elegantly decorated with a gold frame, as well as two thousand precious stones. This altar is a huge piece of jewelry that simply has no equal.
The horse-drawn quadriga, which was created in the IV century BC, also looks beautiful. It was once an ornament of the Trajan arch. The original of this composition is located in the San Marco Museum, and on one of the facades there is a copy made of bronze.
Over the centuries, this cathedral has brought together relics that simply have no price. They got here after the defeat of Constantinople, thanks to the Crusaders. There are also many priceless icons and various relics here.
The temple is also known for its acoustics, which lures many musicians and composers from different times.
The basilica is often depicted in historical paintings, as well as in the form of romantic Venice, but no photographs or drawings can convey His Majesty. St. Mark's Cathedral is worth seeing with your own eyes to warm your soul with pleasant memories for a long time.
