Basilica di San Marco Audio Guide

Explore Basilica di San Marco with Stanza's GPS-triggered offline audio guide.

Basilica di San Marco

About the Tour

St Mark's Basilica is a magnificent cathedral in Venice, Italy, renowned for its opulent Byzantine architecture, intricate mosaics, and as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power. It has served as the patriarchal cathedral of Venice since 1807.

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What you will hear

The Portal of Sant'Alipio

Focusing on the foundation story of Venice. This is the only surviving 13th-century mosaic on the facade.

The Great Heist Mosaic

The Great Heist Mosaic

This vibrant mosaic narrates the daring 'Great Heist' of 828, when two Venetian merchants successfully smuggled the remains of Saint Mark out of Egypt.

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The Treasury of Spoils (Exterior Corner)

Consolidating the looted treasures from Constantinople: the Tetrarchs and the Pillars of Acre.

The Four Tetrarchs

The Four Tetrarchs

Huddled on a corner of the exterior are four figures carved from dark red stone, representing Roman emperors from the 4th century.

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The Story of the Great Flood

Continuing the Old Testament narrative in the narthex with the story of Noah.

Noah and the Dove

Noah and the Dove

This poignant scene offers a close-up on a moment of profound hope: Noah leaning out of the Ark's window to receive the returning dove.

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The Golden Nave and Geometric Floor

The transition into the 'Church of Gold'. Includes the signature mosaics and the undulating floor.

Dome of the Ascension

Dome of the Ascension

The central dome, rising over 28 meters above the floor, depicts the Ascension of Christ in a masterpiece of golden mosaic work.

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The Treasury of San Marco

Housing the spoils of the Fourth Crusade. Focus on Byzantine metalwork.

Treasury of San Marco

Treasury of San Marco

This exquisite piece of 9th-century Byzantine metalwork features fine enamel portraits and represents the imperial devotion once displayed in the grandest churches of the East.

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