An adorable place of worship and an epitome of imperialism. Originally built to house the corpse of St Mark, the Basilica dates back to 828.However, the first version of this massive church was unfortunately destroyed in the year 932. History repeated itself, and the second declaration of the church was annihilated in the year 1063.
Today, the Basilica Di San Marco surprasses the other Romanesque churches in the surrounding mainlaind and cities. It was constructed on a Greek cross plan with the architect having Constantinople's Church of the Twelve Apostles in mind. The five bulbous domes of the basilica do create an impact. For the past 500 years, the dukes and leaders of the place have worked on aggrandizing and emblazing the basilica with treasures from the Asian countries.
The sole Piazza in the city of Venice- the one at San Marco does not disappoint. The Piazza San Marco has a lot of drama revolving around the place. Loved by all-no matter whether you belong to the elite class or are unfortunately poor. One of the most exciting things you can do while on a vacation to Venice is to halt by the San Marco and Piazza. There are hardly a few attractions in Venice which surprass the Piazza di San Marco. It is one of the spots in Venice that has tourists pouring into it. Just like the Piazza, its surrounding areas are equally impressing as well. Things you can check out include
The beautiful Campanile (Bell Tower) castling over the square.
To the south you can find the Palazzo Ducale and the Piazzetta dei Leoni lies to its other side. Chic stores and luxurious, historic cafes dot the place.
The Chiesa di San Rocco also popularly known as the Church of St.Roch gets the latter name mainly because it houses the relics of St. Roch (who also was consequently proclaimed the patron of the church). Many of the visitors who have made it to Venice are of the opinion that the Scuola San Rocco was the highlight of their venice holiday, their most favorite memory and it can be yours too! It truly deserves the label "Sistine Chapel of Venice". I would say that it also has a fair advantage over the alternative Sistine chapel in Rome, mainly owing to its serene atmosphere. You can take a look at the charming and well-kept works and paintings of Tintoretto (by themselves, they make your visit worth your time). The wood carvings at the place are equally impressive. You can find them all over the walls and ceilings. Try to fit it in your itinery and you will be glad you did it. You can equip yourself with an audio guide if you want to update yourself or simply just admire the splendor of the artwork at this religious site.
Now, if you are going on a Venice city break, you better not miss out on the Bridge of Sighs, because if you have, you have really missed it! Connecting two prisons, the Palazzo Ducale and Piombi, this beautiful bridge was built in stone brought straight from Istria. The Baroque patterns which deck up the bridge give a romantic touch to it when compared to its actual use.