St Mark’s Basilica

St Mark's Basilica is the religious heart of Venice and the building that most visitors picture when they think of the city. A first church was raised here in the ninth century to hold the relics of St Mark, which, according to the chronicles, were brought from Alexandria in 828 or 829. The church you see today is the third on the site, probably begun in 1063 and consecrated on 8 October 1094. It mixes Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic elements, and it only became the city's cathedral in 1807; before that it was the doge's private chapel.

Inside, the domes, vaults and upper walls are covered in gold-ground mosaics that span roughly eight centuries of artistic styles, so it pays to let your eyes adjust and look up slowly. Behind the high altar is the Pala d'Oro, a golden altarpiece of Byzantine enamels on gilded silver, first ordered from Constantinople in 1102. Upstairs, the museum holds the four gilded bronze horses that once stood over the main door; the originals have been kept indoors since 1974, and copies now stand on the balcony, where the loggia gives a view straight down onto the piazza.

The Procuratoria di San Marco, which runs the basilica, sells separate timed tickets online for the basilica itself, the Pala d'Oro, the Museum and Loggia of the Horses, the bell tower and evening visits. Booking a slot is the simplest way to avoid the long queue that forms on the piazza, especially from late morning in spring and summer. Allow about an hour for the church and museum together, more if you add the bell tower. As it is a working cathedral, dress as you would for any Italian church, with shoulders and knees covered, and expect parts of the building to close for services.

The basilica suits almost everyone: art lovers come for the mosaics, families tend to enjoy the horses and the loggia, and first-time visitors usually pair it with the Doge's Palace next door. Arriving early or taking an evening visit is the best way to see the interior without the midday crush.

The nearest vaporetto stops are San Marco Vallaresso and San Zaccaria, both a few minutes' walk away. The Doge's Palace, the Campanile and the Museo Correr are all on the same square, and the Bridge of Sighs is a short walk along the waterfront.