San Marco

Piazza San Marco

The Piazza San Marco showcases the basilica of St. Mark's, the Doge's Palace, and the public space. The structure dates back to 1400. This three-sided enclosure of the Piazza San Marco held the offices of the procurators of the basilica and a 13thcentury hospice along the south side. Loggias lined all three faces of the enclosure space which, with its long perspective toward St. Mark's, came close to a Roman forum focused toward its temple on the long axis.The Piazza receives constant and lavish attention from tourists.

Basilica di San Marco

Basilica di San Marco in Venice that was begun in 829 to house and honour the remains of St. Mark that had been brought from Alexandria. St Mark then replaced St. Theodore as the patron saint of Venice and the winged lion became the official symbol of the Venetian Republic. San Marco Basilica is built beside the Palazzo Ducale which served as the doge's chapel. It did not become the cathedral church of Venice until 1807.

The church was burned in 976 during revolt against the doge Pietro Candiano IV but was later restored by his successor, Doge Domenico Contarini. The present basilica was completed in 1071. Its design is a Greek cross and the building is surmounted by five domes. The design is distinctly Byzantine, and it is likely that both Byzantine and Italian architects and craftsmen were employed in the construction and decoration. The interior is decorated throughout with mosaics on gold ground with many varieties of marble, the floor is of inlaid marble and glass. In the restricted light their colours glow. There were many additions over the centuries, like sculpture, mosaics, and ceremonial objects have increasing the church's richness.

Palazzo Ducale

The Palazzo Ducale was established in the 9th century and half a century later Sala del Maggior Consiglio was built to house the members of the Great Council. It was inaugurated in 1419. It became the seat of the republic's government and housed government offices and the prisons.The palace's two magnificent Gothic façades in white Istrian stone and pink Verona marble face thePiazzetta di San Marco. Much of the building was damaged by a fire in 1577 but it was later restored by Antonio da Ponte .

Procuratie

Along the north side of Piazza San Marco is the Procuratie, the former residence and offices of the Procurators of St Mark, who were responsible for the upkeep of the basilica. It was designed by Mauro Codussi. On the south side of Piazza San Marco are the Procuratie Nuove, planned by Jacopo Sansovino and completed by Vincenzo Scamozzi and Baldassare Longhena. Napoleon converted this building into his royal palace and demolished the church of San Geminiano to build the wing commonly known as the Ala Napoleonica, which housed his ballroom.

Libreria Sansoviniana

Libreria Sansovniana was designed by Jacopo Sansovino in the 16th century. Its to the west of Piazzetta di San Marco and houses the Libreria Marciana or the old library and the Museo Archeologico. The museum has an impressive collection of Roman and Greek sculptures. Close by is the Zecca of the 16th century which houses the national library of St Mark, the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana.

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