1 h

Ticket

Skip The Line

About this activity

Exploring the interior with 8,000 square meters of dazzling mosaics on your own might be a daunting task. Let our top guides of our Venice tours lead your way inside St. Mark’s Basilica and let the tales of the mosaics unfold before your eyes. You have questions, or don’t know where to look? Just ask our guide. Enjoy personalized attention on our small groups during our St. Mark’s Basilica Tour.

Be sure not to miss a thing and fully appreciate and understand all the marvels and treasures found inside this vast, stunning monument of Byzantine architecture. Besides the mosaics inside the basilica is the bejeweled Pala d’Oro altarpiece which contains relics of St. Mark behind a screen of precious stones, enamels, and gold.

History

Situated alongside Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica dominates St. Marks’s Square. Any Venice walking tour is bound to pass through this splendid square. The story of St. Mark’s Basilica begins during St. Mark’s journey on his way to Rome. According to legend, during his stop in Venice, an angel announced to him that Venice would be his final resting place. In 828 the angel’s prophesy seems to have been fulfilled when the body of the saint was brought to Venice from Alexandria by merchants. Shortly after, an order coming directly from the Doge’s Place commanded the construction of St. Mark’s Basilica.

During your own journey through this enchanting city, even if you choose to do Venice in a Day, St. Marks Basilica, an absolute treasure trove, should be at the top of your list of Places to see in Venice.