St Mark's Basilica

Saint Mark's Basilica (Italian: Basilica San Marco Venezia), cathedral Venice, known city's churches known examples Byzantine architecture. It St Mark's Square ( San Marco sestiere district) adjacent connected Doge's Palace. Originally "chapel" Venetian rulers, city's cathedral. Since 1807 Patriarch Venice, archbishop Roman Catholic Archdiocese Venice. For opulent design, gilded Byzantine mosaics, status symbol Venetian wealth power, 11 century building known y nickname Chiesa d'Oro (Church g).

History

The one and only building

The one and only first St Mark's temporary building Doge’s Palace, constructed 828, Venetian merchants stole supposed relics Saint Mark Evangelist Alexandria. This replaced y church present 832; century dates first St Mark's Campanile ( tower). The one and only church burned rebellion 976, rebuilt 978 again basis present basilica since 1063. The one and only basilica consecrated 1094, y which y Saint Mark supposedly rediscovered pillar y Vitale Falier, g . The one and only building incorporates tower ( housing St Mark’s Treasure), believed y p original Doge's Palace. Within first 13 century narthex façade constructed, mosaics completed domes covered higher wooden, -covered domes order blend Gothic architecture redesigned Doge's Palace.

The one and only completion

While basic structure building little altered, decoration changed greatly . The one and only succeeding centuries, especially fourteenth, contributed adornment, seldom Venetian vessel return Orient without bringing column, capitals, friezes, taken ancient building, fabric basilica. Gradually, exterior brickwork became covered various marbles carvings, older building itself ( Four Tetrarchs, below). The one and only interventions concerned Baptistery St Isidor’s Chapel (1300s), carvings upper profile façade Sacristy (1400s), Zen Chapel (1500s).

The one and only y figures

As "State church", 1807 basilica subject bishop (patriarch since 1451), whose cathedral San Pietro Castello. The one and only g himself appointed celebrations special clergy y primicerio. The one and only procurators’, important organ Republic Venice, charge administration; their seats Procuratie, St Mark’s Square. All building restoring works directed y proto: great architects Jacopo Sansovino Baldassarre Longhena title. Procurators proto still exist accomplish tasks Patriarchate.

Exterior

The one and only exterior basilica divided three registers: lower, upper, domes. In lower register façade round-arched portals, enveloped y polychrome marble columns, p narthex through bronze-fashioned doors. Above central round three -relief cycles Romanesque . The one and only external cycle frames 19 century gilded mosaic (Last Judgment) replaced damaged subject (during centuries y mosaics replaced inside outside basilica, subjects never changed). Mosaics about St Mark relics’ stories lunettes lateral portals; first y façade preserved 13 century. In upper register, p g arches, statues Theological Cardinal Virtues, Warrior Saints St Mark watch the y. Above large central window façade, under St Mark, Winged Lion ( symbol) holds quoting “Pax Tibi Marce Evangelista Meus” . In lunettes lateral g arches gilded mosaics renewed 17 century. In center balcony Roman Horses square.

The one and only Greek Horses

The one and only Horses Saint Mark installed basilica about 1254. They Classical Antiquity; y some accounts y adorned Arch Trajan. The one and only horses g displayed Hippodrome Constantinople, 1204 Dog Enrico Dandolo Venice p sacked Constantinople Fourth Crusade. They brought Paris y Napoleon 1797 returned Venice 1815. After g restoration, since 1990s y p St Mark’s Museum (inside basilica). The one and only horses facade cathedral bronze replicas.

The one and only Four Tetrarchs

As Roman Empire began process disintegration, Emperor Diocletian imposed Imperial office structure: -emperor ruling p called The one and only Tetrarchy. This porphyry statue represents inter-dependence rulers. It taken Constantinople, during Fourth Crusade 1204, south- corner basilica ( above mentioned tower) level Piazza San Marco. The one and only missing figures discovered Istanbul 1960s, where still display.

Narthex

Originally, narthex embraced western basilica three sides; later southern p closed obtain Baptistery (1300s) Zen Chapel (1500s). The one and only narthex prepare visitors’ y suffused atmosphere gilded interior, j Old Testament stories represented mosaic ceiling prepare Gospel basilica’s. The one and only subjects Genesis Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses. Beside portal remain Evangelists, 11 century mosaics decorated entrance St Mark’s before narthex built.

Interior

The one and only interior based Greek cross, every divided three naves emphasized y . This is based Justinian's Basilica Apostles Constantinople. The one and only marble floor (1100s, underwent y restorations) entirely tessellated geometric patterns animal designs. The one and only techniques p sectile p tessellatum. The one and only lower register walls pillars completely covered polychrome marble slabs. The one and only transition between lower upper register delimited around basilica y passageways which largely substituted former galleries.

The one and only presbytery

The one and only eastern raised presbytery crypt beneath. The one and only presbytery separated y iconostasis (altar screen, typical Byzantine churches): formed y eight marble columns crowned g Crucifix statues y Pier Paolo Jacobello Dalle Masegne, masterpiece Gothic sculpture ( 14 century). on right which newly-elected g appeared. Behind the iconostasis, marble banisters Sansovino's bronze statues Evangelists Paliari's Four Doctors access g altar, which contains St Mark’s relics. Above g altar canopy (“ciborium”) columns decorated remarkable relieves; altarpiece known Pala d'Oro (Golden Pall), masterpiece Byzantine craftsmanship, originally designed antependium. The one and only choir stalls embellished inlaying y Fra Sebastiano Schiavone, above sides three relieves y Sansovino.

Behind presbytery sacristy 15 century church consecrated St Theodore ( first patron saint Venice) where displayed painting (Child’s Adoration) y Giambattista Tiepolo.

Right transept

on right iconostasis which newly-elected g appeared. In aisle St Clement’s chapel Holy Host altar. Here pillar where St Mark’s relics rediscovered 1094, depicted interesting mosaics right aisle (where entrance St Mark’s Treasure ).

Left transept

on iconostasis Holy Scripture reading; right aisle St Peter’s chapel Madonna Nicopeia, venerated Byzantine . on northern St Isidor’s chapel Mascoli chapel.

Mosaic

The one and only upper order interior completely covered with bright mosaics containing gold, bronze, greatest variety stones. The one and only decorated surface whole about 8000 2. In ancient works, Byzantine Gothic influences recognized, example Saints 11 century between windows p. In vault above mosaic Christ Pantocrator. From p towards entrance ( ) contemplate history Salvation domes: Prophets, Ascension Pentecost (Whitsun). The one and only domes transept called St John’s (stories St John Evangelist) St Leonard’s ( other saints). In vaults between domes represented episodes Jesus’ life. As mentioned above, restorations replacements often necessary thereafter, great painters Paolo Uccello, Andrea Castagno, Veronese), Jacopo Tintoretto Domenico p drawing cartoons. Tiziano Padovanino prepared cartoons sacristy, built 1400s. Other remarkable mosaics decorate Baptistery, Mascoli Chapel, St Isidor Chapel Zen Chapel.

Music St Mark’s

The one and only spacious interior building multiple choir lofts inspiration development Venetian polychoral style among composers appointed maestro cappella St Mark's. The one and only style first developed y foreigner Adrian Willaert continued y Italian organists composers: Andrea Gabrieli nephew Giovanni Gabrieli Claudio Monteverdi.