The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark is the most famous cathedral in Venice, Italy. Originally, it was considered to be the Doge's chapel. However, in 1807, after it became the seat of the Venetian Patriarch it was renamed as St. Mark's Cathedral. The basilica is a prime example of Italo-Byzantine architecture. Traditional Roman architecture is seen in the rounded arches and columns, a Byzantine influence is seen in the Greek-cross shape of the basilica, and magnificent mosaics covering the ceiling. The mosaics represent Biblical stories, allegorical figures, the Virgin Mary, Jesus, Saint Mark and other saints. The incredible colors of the mosaics, mostly gold, cover the walls and ceiling from 21 meters wide to 28 meters high. In the basilica there are more than 8,000 square meters of mosaics, enough mosaics to cover 1.5 American football fields. The gold, glass, and jewels that create the mosaics are results from early crusades, which also helped the church to acquire the four bronze horses it houses today, originally from Constantinople (or modern day Istanbul). The image below is from a barrel vault in the basilica, with Christ being crucified as the soldiers pierce his side. The mosaics were developed over 8 centuries, but in the end the extravagance of these was worth the time it took to create.
Work Cited:
- http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/eng/basilica_mos/mosaici.bsm
- http://www.wga.hu/html_m/zgothic/mosaics/6sanmarc/