San Marco is a cathedral in Venice. Description, history and interesting facts

Fabulous Italy, whose attractions silently testify to the rich history, is of great interest to travelers. Charming Venice occupies a separate place among other cities of the country, and its architectural masterpieces are known throughout the world.

Medieval Monument of Basilica of San Marco

Ancient San Marco - a cathedral in Venice, which is rightly recognized as an outstanding monument of medieval art. The most beautiful building, which appeared in the IX century, excites people's hearts, forcing them to fight harder at the rare example of Byzantine architecture in Europe. In 1987, the landmark was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Residents of the city and foreign guests are admiring the ancient cathedral, occupying an honorable place in the world treasury of architectural works.

St. Mark's Cathedral in St. Mark's Square

The main religious attraction of Venice is in the area of Sestiere San Marco, on the eponymous central square (Piazza San Marco), which is the visiting card of the city. Most tourists hurry to get acquainted with the significant monuments of the country, at the famous San Marco in Venice (square).

The cathedral, whose history dates back several centuries, showed the might and grandeur of the Venetian Republic. Initially it was planned that in the basilica will be the relics of St. Mark, who in 829 were rescued by Italian traders from the desecration of Muslims and brought to the city by water from Alexandria. According to the legend, the wandering apostle was dreamed of by an angel who declared that after death he would find peace in Venice, and the merchants fulfilled his last will. When the shrine arrived in the city, the apostle received the status of his patron.

In 832, the first version of the cathedral appeared, which in 150 years was seriously destroyed by fire, but the remains of the saint were not harmed. Later, the basilica was restored, and she rejoiced the parishioners. Its original architectural appearance was quite ascetic.

Contemporary Cathedral of San Marco: description, history, exact address

The construction of the modern basilica, located at San Marco, 328, 30124 Venezia, began in 1063, and at the end of the century the building was consecrated. But for several centuries the decoration of the fabulously beautiful church of San Marco continued. The cathedral in Venice is an unusual sight, because it was adorned with new generations of Venetians, who gave the image of a religious monument an identity. And as a result, the landmark, which became a place of pilgrimage of tourists, turned into a museum of medieval art.

In the architectural appearance of the basilica, composed of bricks, there are elements of all types of styles. Marble of excellent quality, Greek bas-reliefs, Gothic capitals made up a wonderful one-piece ensemble. Thanks to the unique talent of builders in the world, there is no such masterpiece capable of competing in beauty and grandeur with San Marco.

The cathedral in Venice, which went down in history as St. Mark's Basilica, was not officially considered a cathedral in the Middle Ages, and until the beginning of the 19th century this status belonged to the city church of San Pietro di Castello.

The world masterpiece has turned into the center of urban social life: here the funeral services of heroes, dedications of doges and other important ceremonies were held, the locals went there in search of consolation. It is no exaggeration to say that St. Mark's Cathedral became a religious and civil symbol of the city.

Relics brought from other countries

The magnificent cathedral in Venice in St. Mark's Square was received between the 12th and 14th centuries. Elements of the decor belong to different times and are brought from other countries.

The form of the cathedral is a Greek cross. The builders of Venice, economically and politically connected with Byzantium, have learned a lot from the masters of a powerful empire, including the construction of a building crowned with five domes resembling lanterns.

The facades of brick, which was not visible under the marble facing, adorn various relics brought to Venice. For example, some reliefs depicting hunting scenes were made in Byzantium, and carved pylons were brought from Syria.

Pala d'Oro, created half a century

The majestic San Marco (the cathedral in Venice) is famous throughout the world for its unique golden altar, recognized as the richest among those that have survived to this day. In the upper part of the brightest element of the decoration of the temple are inserted miniature medallions, made in the technique of cloisonne enamel. Expensive plates were removed from Constantinople and are the greatest value. Decorated with precious stones and gold, they are recognized as a genuine work of art.

Iconostasis and Cyria

The altar part is separated by a gothic iconostasis from dark red marble, brought from Constantinople, from the central nave. It is crowned by a huge cross, and on both sides of the barrier are 14 sculptures: 12 apostles, the statue of the Virgin Mary and the apostle Mark.

There is also a special canopy above the throne, called "kivoriy". Under him are the relics of the apostle, transferred in the 30s of the XIX century from the crypt, in a marble sarcophagus, which is supported by four alabaster columns. On each of them are carved reliefs with images of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ.

Crypt of the basilica

In 1094, the relics of the apostle were placed in the crypt - a vaulted underground room intended for the storage of shrines. After 400 years it was closed for visits. After the fall of the Venetian Republic, the worship began again in the crypt.

In its center there is a chapel decorated with an openwork marble slab, under which the relics of the apostle Mark were previously stored. In 1835 they were transferred to the main altar of the temple. Crete of the cathedral of San Marco in Venice is of particular interest, since the surviving fragments of its architectural details scientists still refer to the times of the first cathedral.

What else is in the cathedral?

In the left part of the basilica is the altar of the Madonna, and next to it is built the chapel of Isidore, where a sarcophagus with the remains of a saint is kept.

In the right wing is a baptistery, designed for the baptism of infants. Its walls are decorated with marble, and the arches - with mosaic compositions. In the center of the room there is a stone font with a bronze lid, and next to it is a tombstone to the most revered doge - Andrea Dandolo.

Luxury mosaic works

Mosaic canvases on the walls and the dome cause a sense of admiration. Many of them were made in the XIII century, and the earliest dates back to the IX century.

Luxury compositions created by Italian craftsmen who worked with glass and stone. It is believed that the Venetian artists were introduced to the art of mosaic Byzantines, who often visited the city.

Colorful mosaics on the walls of the basilica tell of the life of Jesus, narrating about the patron saints of the city. In the center of the dome of the cathedral there is the composition "Ascension of Christ", and on the arches - episodes from the New Testament.

Marble from Constantinople

The beauty of the mosaics on the walls is surprisingly combined with a rich ornament made of natural marble floor slabs .

I must say that this rock in the decoration of the cathedral appeared only in the XIII century. The extraction of the Fourth Crusade was marble columns from the temples of Constantinople. Builders used the new material, resulting in even greater splendor of the ancient St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice.

The cathedral of San Marco can be called a real museum of Venetian and Byzantine art, where priceless art works are collected.

History of the quadriga

Above the entrance to the basilica is the famous four rushing horses, which were cast from bronze by Greek sculptors in the IV century BC. Quadriga first served as a decoration of the triumphal arch in Rome, later several centuries it was adorned on the gates of the racetrack in Constantinople.

In the XIII century, the Venetian Doge Enrique Dandolo, who pulled the country out of the economic crisis, seized the capital of the Byzantine Empire, and as a trophy took out a sculpture, which later, on the orders of Napoleon, was sent to Paris, where she stayed for about 18 years in the Carousel Square. After the defeat of the army of Bonaparte, the quadriga returned to Venice, and by decision of the authorities it was hoisted above the main entrance of the basilica. During the war, the sculpture with an amazing history was filmed and hidden in shelters.

Today, the bronze horses of the Cathedral of San Marco in Venice are in the museum of the basilica, and the architectural monument is crowned with a beautifully executed copy that appeared in the 70s of the last century.

Atrium

Through the central entrance visitors enter the atrium, the walls of which are decorated with marble and mosaic, admired to the depths of the artist Surikov. Cloths tell about the events of the Old Testament, and every day of creation by the God of the world is indicated by a snow-white angel. Here, too, is the tomb of Doharress (the wife of Doge), decorated with stone lace, by Felicity Mikiyel.

To touch the collection of the treasures of charming Venice and get the blessing of Saint Mark today is very simple - it is enough to go into the Cathedral of the Apostle, which is storing the relics, which is a chronicle of religious and civil history.

Before the visitors of the basilica there is a unique biography of the most unusual city on the water, which has attracted admired travelers from different parts of our planet for several centuries.