Venice · consecrated in 1094

St Mark’s Basilica

Step inside for the gold mosaics, the Pala d’Oro, the bronze horses, a thousand years of history

Visitors2

Where would you like to start?

Photos: Gary Houston, Matthias Süßen, Giulio09445, dconvertini, Prof. Mortel, Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, Paul Colin Hennig firstdorsal.eu, Dimitris Kamaras from Athens, Greece. Credits and licences in the gallery.

Before you go

Open: Mon–Sat 9:30 – 17:15, last admission 16:45; Sun 14:00 – 17:15, last admission 16:45
Entry: €10.00, for a booked time slot
Inside: 20 minutes at most inside the Basilica, along the roped route (Pala d’Oro not included)
Dress: Shoulders covered; no excessive necklines. Knees covered: no very short skirts or shorts.

Frequently asked questions

When was St Mark’s Basilica built?

The present church was begun in 1063 under Doge Domenico Contarini and consecrated in 1094. It is the third on the site: the first was consecrated in 832, and the second was its rebuilding after the fire of 976–978.

Why is it called St Mark’s?

It was built for the body of Saint Mark the Evangelist, brought to Venice from Alexandria in Egypt in 829. Doge Vitale Falier laid it in the crypt when the present church was consecrated.

Was it always Venice’s cathedral?

No. For about a thousand years it served as the Doges’ chapel. It became the seat of the Patriarch of Venice only in 1807; until then the cathedral was San Pietro di Castello.

How much does it cost to go in?

€10.00 for the Basilica, for a time slot booked on the Basilica’s own ticket shop. The Pala d’Oro and the Museum are extra, and the bell tower is a separate ticket.

When is St Mark’s Basilica open?

Monday to Saturday 9:30 – 17:15, last admission 16:45; Sundays and holidays 14:00 – 17:15, last admission 16:45, since the morning is for Mass. Entry is only in the time slot you booked.