St. Mark's Basilica and other Venice, Italy Things to Do Tips

St Mark's Basilica is the most famous of the churches of Venice and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture. It has been the seat of the Patriarch of Venice since 1807.

The first St Mark's was a temporary building in the Doge’s Palace, constructed in 828, when Venetian merchants acquired the supposed relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist from Alexandria. This was replaced by a new church on its present site in 832. The new church was burned in a rebellion in 976, rebuilt in 978 and again to form the basis of the present basilica in 1063.

Today's basilica was consecrated in 1094, the same year as in which the body of Saint Mark was rediscovered in a pillar by Vitale Falier, doge at the time. The crypt then housed the relics until 1811. The building also incorporates a low tower, believed by some to have been part of the original Doge's Palace.

St. Marks Square outside is full of trendy restaurants. It often floods but when it isn't it is full of people and pigeons. Let me tell you something. Those pigeons have attitude and won't move for anybody.

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Phone: (+39)0415225205
Address: Piazza San Marco

The main "street" in Venice. Venice's roads are the canals that run around the city. This one is the main one and takes you past many of the main sites in Venice. Unfortunately when I was there in August it was very hot and the canal was smelly.

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Directions: Waterbus:
No. 1 stops at every stage
No. 82 stops at the station, Rialto and St. Mark’s Square.

The Chiesa di San Moisè (or San Moisè Profeta) in Venice is dedicated to Moses. It also honours Moisè Venier, who paid for it to be rebuilt in the 9th century. The elaborate Baroque facade is covered in carvings and was created by Heinrich Meyring in 1668. The interior is dominated by Meyring's huge altarpiece - Mount Sinai with Moses receiving the Tablets. John Law, originator of the Mississippi Scheme, is buried in the church.

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Address: Near Piazza S.Marco

The Basilica of St Mary of Health/Salvation, commonly known simply as the Salute, is one of the largest churches of Venice and has the status of a minor basilica. It stands at the

In October 1630, the Senate decreed that if the city was delivered from the currently raging plague that had killed about a third of Venice's population then a new church would be built and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Baldassare Longhena, then only 26 years old, was selected to design the new church. It was finally completed in 1681, the year before Longhena's death.

Every year, on 21 November, the Feast of the Presentation of the Virgin, the city's officials processed from San Marco to the Salute for a service of thanksgiving for deliverance from the plague. This involved crossing the Grand Canal on a specially constructed pontoon bridge. The Festa della Madonna della Salute is still a major event in Venice.

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Directions: The junction between the Grand Canal and the Bacino di San Marco on the lagoon.