Beautiful Venice inspired many artists, poets, musicians to create a world famous works. No wonder. A city in which magnificent nature is harmoniously connected with exquisite architecture and a long history will not leave anyone indifferent. Here, every building is a landmark, but in this article we will introduce you to a magnificent structure - St. Mark's Cathedral.
Everywhere in Venice you can find many monuments dedicated to the Evangelist Mark, who has long been considered the heavenly patron of the city. The first chapel dedicated to the apostle appeared in the city back in 829. Its main shrine was the relics of St. Marks that Venetian sailors stole from Alexandria.
When the Venetians saw that Muslims were barbarously destroying Christian churches and building mosques in their place, they decided to protect the relics of the evangelist from desecration. As the ancient legend says, in order to transport the priceless relic on a ship, the merchants resorted to a trick - they pawned the relics of the saint with pork carcasses, and told the customs officers that they were transporting pork. The Saracens, preaching Islam, did not dare to touch the unclean animal and did not check the cargo. Mark was burned during a popular uprising in 976. At the same time, the Venetian ruler Pietro IV Candiano was overthrown from the throne.
St. Mark's Cathedral, whose history dates back to 1063, amazes not only ordinary tourists. It is admired and continues to be studied by specialists in the field of architecture. Looking at its image, many wonder in which city St. Mark's Cathedral is located. Of course, in ancient Venice (Italy).
In 1071, when the cathedral was not yet completed, the new ruler of the city, Domenico Selvo, was installed in it. It was under him (1071-1084) that the first cycle of making the mosaic decoration of the cathedral began. The temple was consecrated in 1094 under Vital Falier. This ruler (doge) was buried in one of the galleries, where the narthex of the temple is located today.
St. Mark's Cathedral, a photo of which you can see in this article, was built quite quickly - within thirty years. But over the next five hundred years it was constantly expanded and decorated.
The Venetians feared that the Alexandrians would find out about the theft of the relic, so they decided to announce the “miracle” of the appearance of the remains. Ancient legend says that the residents of the city were ordered to pray and fast so that the Lord would help find the relics of Mark. And one day God “heard” the prayers of the townspeople - during one of the services, the column fell away and in the hole the parishioners saw the hand of the saint. There was no doubt left - a “miracle” helped find the relics.
For a long time, St. Mark's Cathedral (Venice) was a palace chapel. Rulers (Doges) were crowned in this temple, and here they found their final refuge. The army was blessed in the temple for victory in the Crusades. Here captains going on long voyages received blessings.
Within these ancient walls, the Emperor of Rome - Frederick I Barbarossa - concluded the long-awaited peace with Alexander III. Not a single city celebration was complete without a solemn mass in this basilica. On the square in front of the temple, the famous Venetian carnivals were and continue to be noisy today, as well as other special events.
It is unlikely that anyone will dispute the assertion that this temple is one of the most interesting and striking attractions of the city. Huge majestic building attracts tourists from all over the world. What is so attractive about St. Mark's Cathedral? Being under its arches, according to parishioners, is a great happiness. The monumentality of the structure strengthens faith and purifies the soul.
But one cannot help but say about architectural features unique structure. St. Mark's Basilica, a description of which can be found in all guidebooks to Venice, has five entrances. Each of them has a sculpture and columns in two tiers. Magnificent mosaic compositions above the entrances demonstrate the events that are associated with the theft of the saint’s relics and their appearance in Venice.
The five-domed cross-domed Cathedral of St. Mark was created on the model of the Temple of the Apostles in Constantinople. As we have already mentioned, over the next five centuries the temple was expanded and decorated. Work on cladding the façade of the cathedral with marble began in 1159. In the 12th century, mosaics appeared on the central domes and vaults. Baptistery and Chapel of St. Isidora was added in 1354. The Mascoli Chapel appeared in the 15th century, as did the sacristy. In the next, 16th century, the Zen Chapel appeared. The decoration of the temple was completely completed at the end of the 15th century. This is confirmed by his image in the painting by G. Bellini.
Experts note obvious heterogeneity architectural styles square in front of the temple. St. Mark's Cathedral is its architectural dominant. The author of the project for the magnificent structure was an unknown Greek architect, who based the structure on a Byzantine cross, and it is crowned with four ending domes, the fifth being the base.
Above the main entrances to the cathedral you can see arches with amazing mosaics. Above the main entrance such a panel depicts scenes from Last Judgment. On the roof there is a copy of the four horses made of bronze. Such a sculpture was brought from Constantinople (1204) as a military trophy.
Most of the ancient relics of the temple came here after the fall of Constantinople. These primarily include the quadriga, located on the western facade. This is a copy, and its original is kept in the temple museum. In addition, this is a unique “golden altar” made by excellent Byzantine craftsmen, the icon “Madonna Nikopea”.
St. Mark's Cathedral (Venice) amazes everyone who comes under its arches with an abundance of colored marble and mosaics on biblical subjects. They occupy a huge area - more than four thousand square meters. Amazing fragments of multi-colored glass are laid out on the thinnest sheets of gold. Cancer with the relics of St. The mark is kept under the sparkling gems and golden throne of the main altar. Above it there is a “golden altar” - a special iconostasis, which was made by Byzantine craftsmen in 1343 by order of the Venetians.
Made from Gothic frame, it consists of 250 miniatures on enamel, inlaid with 2000 semi-precious and precious stones. On the altar you can see scenes from the New Testament and the hagiography. Due to the huge number, they are sometimes called the “golden basilica”.
Today St. Mark's Cathedral is a functioning temple. Daily services are held in the chapel of St. Isidora. There are always a lot of not only parishioners, but also city guests at the services. You can visit every day. The opening hours of the temple are very convenient for visits - from 9:45 to 16:00. In addition to the relics, the relics of the temple include: the icon of the Virgin Mary and the relics of the martyr Isidore. That is why Christian pilgrims from all over the world constantly arrive here.
This is the name of the bell tower of the temple. This an integral part of cathedral It is located on the main square of the city. From here you can see the whole of Venice, since the height of the structure is 99 meters, it is the tallest in Venice.
In the 8th century there was a clock tower here. She burned down in a fire that started after a lightning strike. In 1514, a bell tower appeared in the city, which can be seen today. Construction was initiated by Admiral Grimani. He needed to win the trust of townspeople and local officials, since before that he had not completed the task assigned to him, and therefore could have been convicted. Today we can say with confidence that the Campanile of St. Mark's Cathedral was built at the expense of Grimani.
This structure was a lighthouse for sailors and a watchtower. From here the surrounding area was perfectly visible. At the same time, it was also a place of punishment for church ministers who were seen in same-sex relationships. They were put in special cages and hung from the tower.
The Campanile of St. Mark's Basilica had five bells, each with its own purpose. The largest of them sounded only in the morning, informing residents that the day had already begun.
In 1902, the campanile cracked along one wall and collapsed. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Ten years later (1912) the tower was restored.
The façade of the loggia consists of three arches decorated with side columns. Between them in niches there are bronze statues of Mercury, Minerva, and Apollo. During reconstruction in 1912 side facades, which were originally made of brick, were faced with marble.
The Bell Tower of St. Mark's in Venice is located in the San Marco district in the square near the church of the same name. This “mistress of the city” has been towering over the square for more than a thousand years. From here you have a view of all the shipping lanes in the lagoon and the city as a whole. Nowadays, when a flood approaches, a red lantern is lit on one of the facades.
This is one of the most visited historical monuments cities.
Story emergence.
The Bell Tower of St. Mark's in Venice was built in the 9th century. It was a watchtower and a lighthouse.
The Bell Tower was often struck by lightning, as a result of which it was partially destroyed, but then restored. The earthquake of 1511 caused considerable damage to the building.
In 1902, a crack in the wall led to the complete destruction of the bell tower. She was restored to original form in 1912. The restoration work was led by the mayor of the city, Filippo Grimani.
The belfry of the Bell Tower had a special purpose in its time. It consists of five bells. The first bell, Marangona, rang when the work of the shipyard began. The second - Nona - called at noon (he still calls to this day). The third bell - Trottier called the nobles to go to Big tip. The fourth bell - Pregadi - spoke of the convening of the Senate. The fifth - Maleficio - announced the death penalty in the square. Together they rang the holidays.
Architecture.
The building of the Church of St. Mark in Venice has a square plan and is about 99 meters high.
The building is made of brick, which is decorated with flutes. The belfry is made of marble, and the female sculptures above it depict Justice and Venice. Above the belfry there are also figures of winged lions, symbols of Venice. At the top of the Bell Tower stands a statue of the Archangel Gabriel.
The Bell Tower of St. Mark has changed its appearance many times as a result of restoration work and reconstruction.
In the 12th century, the bell tower in Venice was rebuilt in the likeness of the bell tower in Aquileia. In the 16th century, the belfry of the Bell Tower underwent reconstruction. It was made of marble and added an attic depicting a Venetian lion. The roof is made of bronze, and its shine is visible from long distance. In 1511, instead of a cross, the top of the bell tower of St. Mark was occupied by a statue of the Archangel Gabriel, which was made of wood covered with gilded bronze plates.
By 1549, Loggetta Sansovino appeared at the Campanile of St. Mark's in Venice. It was designed by Jacopo Sansovino, from which the loggia gets its name. The Loggetta is located at the base of the bell tower and is a wonderful piece of architecture.
For a tourist on note.
There is an entrance fee to the Bell Tower of St. Mark's in Venice. Visiting hours: October - from 9:00 to 19:00, November - March/April (Easter) - from 9:30 to 15:45, March/April (Easter) - June - from 9:00 to 19:00, and from July to September - from 9:00 to 21:00. To get here you have to wait in a long line.
Neighborhood.
Next to the Bell Tower in Venice is the Church of San Marco, which gives its name to the square. The church is a wonderful architectural monument and is decorated with sculptures and artistic works of the great masters of his time.
The Bell Tower of St. Mark is adjacent to the Doge's Palace. Here at one time there was the residence of the Doges. Now it is a museum that contains works of art great masters, weapon collections, and much more. There is also a former ancient prison located here.
The Library and the Old and New Procuracy buildings are also located in Piazza San Marco.
There are many cafes and restaurants here, as well as the oldest and most famous cafe “Florian”.
The Bell Tower of St. Mark in Venice Square of the same name is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city.
Without exception, everyone who has visited Venice has a photo with the Bell Tower of San Marco in the background.
In the 9th century, a watchtower was built on this site, which also served as a lighthouse. The bell tower in its current form was built in 1514. Everyone liked the building so much that it became a classic example for bell towers. Quite a few of them were built in the same image in Italy and Dalmatia, which was then under the rule of Venice. There are Venetian towers in the image and likeness of the bell tower of San Marco even in Spanish Barcelona.
The bell tower of San Marco is topped by a pyramidal spire with a weather vane in the form of a golden angel. The angel was installed in early XVI century.
The entrance to St. Mark's bell tower is through a loggette added in the mid-16th century. Previously there was a stable here. The Loggetta was first used to welcome nobles, but after a couple of decades the Doge decided that it was more suitable to house the guards of the Doge's Palace.
Loggett made in the form triumphal arch and is richly decorated with bas-reliefs and bronze statues by the sculptor Jacopo Sansovino. The sculptures on the loggette's façade appeared during restoration work when the bell tower of St. Mark suddenly collapsed. The collapse occurred on July 14, 1902 due to deterioration of the building. By a lucky coincidence, no one was injured, but the lodgetta and the corner of the Doge's Palace were destroyed.
By decision of the city authorities, the bell tower of San Marco was accurately restored “where it was and as it was” (ov’era e com’era). Restoration work lasted 10 years. On April 25, 1912, St. Mark's Day, the bell tower was inaugurated.
Inside the tower there is now a specially fortified shaft with an elevator, and in the Middle Ages there were torture chambers here. More recently, tourists could choose to climb the bell tower of St. Mark on foot for 5 euros or take the elevator for 8. Today there is no choice - only by elevator. Somehow it’s wrong to take the elevator to the tower... It’s always more interesting on foot! I really love climbing all kinds of towers and bell towers!
From a bird's eye view you can see how huge Venice is and how many interesting unexplored corners it has. Fog again... It seems that it does not disappear here even if the Sun comes out.
We walked around the observation deck of the San Marco bell tower in a circle.
Adjacent to St. Mark's Square small area, which is called piazzetta. The piazzetta has two granite columns - St. Mark and St. Theodore. There should have been three columns. These war trophies, after the victory of the Venetian fleet in the war against the king of Tire in 1125, were transported by sea to Venice. While unloading, one column fell into the sea and was lost forever in the muddy lagoon bottom. Of course, the mystics immediately saw this as the revenge of the defeated king. Each of the columns weighs about 100 tons, their installation was an incredible technical achievement of the time. Venetians do not like columns and never walk between them. The fact is that executions were carried out here in the Middle Ages. The condemned man was turned to face the clock tower so that he could see his last minutes with his own eyes... The clock tower is visible in the first panoramic photograph.
At the bell tower we realized that if I tell my friends about everything that I have already learned about Venice, looking at these views, then we will not get down soon...
The island of San Giorgio is located very close and can be easily reached by vaporetto. We haven't made it yet, but next time we will!
Giudecca Island is the widest and closest island to the main Venice, which the Venetians call Spina Lunga (long fish bone).
From above, St. Mark's Square looks like a huge courtyard of one building. The piazza's pavement was paved with bricks at the end of the 13th century. different colors. Strips of light stone are still used for their intended purpose - in organizing ceremonial processions.
On the bell platform, which today is used as Observation deck, houses five bells. Each bell has its own purpose. The largest is called Marañona, its sound reminds people in the morning to go to work, and then reminds them to resume work in the afternoon. We heard the ringing of one of the bells just after our hearty lunch in one of the restaurants in Venice.
In the distance we spotted the clearly leaning bell tower of some cathedral.
Zoom in on the image. That's right, another tower in Italy decided to lean...
What kind of bell tower is that, we'll figure it out next time. After all, Venice and I never say goodbye!
The square is named in honor of the Apostle Mark thanks to the zeal of two Venetian merchants who, in 829, stole the relics of the Saint in Alexandria, secretly delivering them to Venice. The cunning people lined the sarcophagus with pork carcasses, so the Arabs, being Muslims, were unable to carefully examine the cargo. Returning home, the merchants placed the relics in the Basilica of St. Mark, which was specially built for this purpose. But as a result of a palace coup, the building was severely damaged by fire. In its place, in 1063, the construction of the Cathedral of San Marco began. The area in front of the building gradually expanded, reaching its current size. It hosted festive processions, carnivals, bullfights and even executions.
Piazza San Marco in the 18th century
St. Mark's Square consists of two parts: Piazzetta and Piazza. The Piazzetta is the area from the Grand Canal to the bell tower, and the Piazza is the square itself in front of St. Mark's Basilica.
Columns of St. Mark and Theodore. Getting off the vaporetto, two marble columns appear before the traveler’s gaze. One of them is crowned by a sculpture of St. Theodore, the former patron of the city, and the second by a sculpture of a winged lion, which is a symbol of St. Mark. These columns represent conventional gates, but not a single Venetian passes between them. Previously, commoners were executed here, and local residents in the morning often saw another hanged man dangling from a rope, so walking between the columns is considered bad omen and bad manners.
Doge's Palace 
Doge's Palace. Doge is the ruler of Venice. Your residence in gothic style, preserved in perfect condition to this day, the doge was built between the 14th and 15th centuries according to the design of the architect Filippo Calendario. The rulers worked and lived in the palace. The Supreme Court operated here, the Senate and the Great Council met, and the balcony built above served as a platform from which the Doge made speeches, revealing himself to the people. In addition to administrative and legal institutions, the Doge's Palace housed a prison, from which Giacomo Casanova fearlessly escaped in 1756. On the second floor of the building there is a colonnade, where between the 9th and 10th columns the death sentence was carried out for the imprisoned nobles. These columns stand out sharply from the rest with their dirty pink color. According to legend, over time they changed color out of shame and grief.
Marks the end of the Piazzetta. This is the tallest building in Venice, from which the entire city is visible at a glance. Today, tourists are transported to a height of 96 meters by a high-speed elevator. The bell tower is made in the Early Renaissance style and previously served as a lighthouse for ships.
St. Mark's Cathedral. Piazza San Marco with three sides surrounded by buildings, so at first glance it gives the impression of a huge matchbox. Here is the most amazing building in Venice - the cathedral. It began to be built in the 11th century and has been frequently reconstructed since then. The building is made in Venetian style. It contains the relics of the Evangelist Mark and many objects of art brought during Crusades from Constantinople. Today St. Mark's Cathedral is a UNESCO property.
St. Mark's CathedralDuring high season the basilica is open from 9.45 to 17.00. On Sundays and religious holidays from 14.00 to 17.00. Free admission.
The treasury receives visitors at the same time. Admission ticket costs 3 euros.
The St. Mark's Museum is open from 9.45 to 16.45. Ticket price – 4 euros.
Pala d'Oro in weekdays open from 9.45 to 17.00. And on weekends and holidays - from 14.00 to 17.00. The entrance ticket will cost 2 euros.
During the low season, the closing time of all establishments is an hour earlier.
From April to October, the Doge's Palace is open to visitors from 8.30 to 19.00. And from November to March, the attraction operates on a reduced schedule - from 8.30 to 17.30. The price of a combined ticket was 17 euros. It is also valid for entry to the Archaeological Museum, the Correr Museum and the National Library of San Marco.
Columns of the Doge's Palace
From July to September the bell tower is open from 9.00 to 21.00. In March, April, October - from 9.00 to 19.00. In November and Easter on a short schedule - from 9.30 to 15.45. The entrance ticket costs 8 euros.
After a busy excursion you will have worked up an appetite. But we do not recommend having lunch in one of the many cafes on St. Mark's Square. Just for a cup of coffee they charge 10 euros. And the bill for basic Venetian dishes such as Moleche, Risotto nero and Fegato alla veneziana can be 100 euros. Therefore, it is better to move away from the tourist center. After all, expensive does not always mean tasty. The establishments on the square are accustomed to a large influx of tourists and do not always cook conscientiously. It is not so important for restaurant owners whether customers like the food or not: in a day or two they will leave, and new ones will take their place. To eat tasty and economically, it is better to go to residential areas where there are inexpensive restaurants frequented by local residents. They are located in the Castello area on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, as well as in the Canareggio quarter along the Fondamenta della Misericordia and Fondamenta degli Ormesini.
Campanile of St. Mark's Basilica is one of the most recognizable symbols of Venice (). Campanile has quite simple form, its height is 98.6 meters, and its top is crowned by a magnificent loggia with five cathedral bells.
Campanile of St. Mark's Basilica
The Campanile acquired its current appearance in 1514. True, what we see today is a reconstruction from 1912 after St. Mark's Tower was destroyed in 1902.
First tower on the site of the modern Campanile, it was erected back in the 8th century during the reign of Doge Pietro Tribuno. However, that tower was not a bell tower; it was used primarily as a lighthouse and watchtower. During its existence, the tower was rebuilt several times.
In 1489, the old Campanile of St. Mark's was destroyed by fire and it was decided to build a new Campanile. The one we see today. The architect of the Campanile was Giorgio Spaveno, and later work on the construction of the tower was continued by Bartolomeo Bon from Bergamo.
Campanile of St. Mark's on the map
