Basilica di San Marco

A visit to St. Mark’s Basilica is unlike any other stop on your Venetian journey. Here, Byzantine and Western traditions come together in a dazzling display of gold, mosaics, marble and light. One of the highlights is the Pala d’Oro, the extraordinary golden altarpiece positioned behind the high altar. Created and embellished over several centuries, it is made of gold and silver-gilt, enamel panels and hundreds of precious and semi-precious stones, creating an object that is as much a work of precious craftsmanship as it is a sacred image. These photographs capture just a small part of the visual richness of San Marco and the experience of standing inside a space where architecture, light and imagery seem to surround the visitor from every direction.