One of those places where sightseeing, the arts, nightlife, and, yes, even romance coexist in harmony is Venice. Venice may appear to be a little island, but each neighborhood offers something unique. The most crucial query is: What must you visit in Venice?
St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), unquestionably the most famous church in Venice and one of the easiest to recognize in the entire world, was formerly the Doge’s private chapel and is now embellished with Byzantine art treasures that were looted and brought back by Venetian ships after Constantinople fell.
The 4,240 square meters of gold mosaics that adorn the domes and walls within are only hinted at by the gold-backed mosaic images above the doors on the façade. These give its grand interior a particularly Byzantine feel. Still, you’ll also find gems from other eras, including later mosaics created by Titian and Tintoretto, whose names you’ll see all around the city.
Early 12th-century painters started work on the beautiful golden altarpiece, the Pala d’Oro, one of the best in Europe. Several decades later, approximately 2,000 diamonds and precious stones were added. Look down at the floor, a work of marble inlay, if you can tear your eyes away from this, the mosaic domes, and the numerous elaborately painted altars. Spend some time admiring the gold icons and shrines in the Treasury.