St. Mark's Basilica Size report
St. Mark's Basilica stands on St. Mark's Square in the center of Venice. St. Mark's Basilica is the pride of Venice and one of the most prestigious cathedrals in the Christian world, the starting point of the Fourth Crusade. It was the largest church in Europe in the Middle Ages and also a treasure trove of rich art collections.
St. Mark's Basilica was built to commemorate the twelve saints of Jesus and collect trophies. It was built in the 9th century AD and completed in 1094. Afterward, it suffered a fire and was restored to its present scale. The Treasure Hall on the right side of the church houses and exhibits the spoils brought back from Constantinople by the Crusades in 1204.
St. Mark's Basilica is named after St. Mark, the disciple of Jesus buried in it. It combines Eastern and Western architectural features. It was originally a Byzantine building, and Gothic decorations, such as pointed arches, were added in the 15th century; Renaissance decorations, such as railings, were added in the 17th century. Let's find out more interesting facts about St. Mark's Basilica.
St. Mark's Basilica Size and Structure
St. Mark's Basilica is almost 1000 years old. It is one of the most gorgeous and important churches of Catholicism, with more than 500 stone pillars and more than 4000 square meters of mosaics. The church building follows the Byzantine style and is shaped like a Greek cross, covered with five hemispherical domes. It is a comprehensive art masterpiece integrating Byzantine, Gothic, Islamic, and Renaissance styles. The five arched Romanesque gates on the front of the church were successively completed in the seventeenth century. Above the entrance, arches are five mosaic paintings describing the deeds of St. Mark. There are oriental and Gothic spires and various marble statues, reliefs, and flower patterns on the top.
The church's interior is covered with detailed mosaic paintings, from the floor to the walls to the ceiling. Its themes cover the sermons of the twelve apostles, the crucifixion of Christ, Christ and prophets, and portraits of saints. These paintings are covered with a layer of glittering. The bright gold foil makes the whole church shrouded in golden light, and the church is also known as the "Golden Cathedral."
St. Mark's Basilica Size
From the tallest bell tower in Venice, approximately 98.6 meters, there are stunning views of Venice and the Basilica di San Marco. The structure of the whole cathedral presents a Greek cross-shaped design; the overall length is 76.5 meters, and the width is 62.5 meters. The front of the basilica is 51.8 meters long, with five arches. Five domes of different sizes characterize St. Mark's Basilica. The center dome is 43 meters in outer height and 28.15 meters high in inner.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 76.5 m |
| Width | 62.5 m |
| Dome Height | 43 m (outer); 28.15 m (inner) |
| Tower Height | 98.6 m |
Final Words
St. Mark's Basilica is one of the most visited attractions in Venice and a must-see on any traveler's Italy itinerary. There are more than 85,000 square feet (or 8,000 square meters) of mosaics in St. Mark's Basilica; Most are made of gold. You can see how the light makes the colors and scenes look different as you enter the main hall at different times of the day. The jewel of the monastery is the Pala d'Oro, 1.4 meters high and 3.48 meters wide, made in 976 and restored later. The screen is decorated with over 2,500 jewels, such as diamonds, rubies, pearls, topaz, emeralds, and amethysts. These architectural features are astounding and worth visiting.
