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Basilica di San Marco

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The Basilica di San Marco is a Catholic Pontifical basilica in Venice, Italy. It is located on the east side of Piazza San Marco and is connected to the Palazzo Ducale. Originally it was a dedicated church for the Duke of Venice, and since 1807 it has become the cathedral of the Catholic diocese of Venice, and the residence of the Patriarch of Venice. It is a famous representative of Byzantine architecture and has the reputation of "Chiesa d'Oro".

Basilica was originally built in 828. It was originally a temporary building in the Palazzo Ducale, which was used to store the remains of St. Mark smuggled out of Alexandria, Egypt by merchants in Venice. This church was later replaced by a new church in 832. The new church was burned down in a rebellion in 976 and rebuilt in 978. The foundation of today ’s Basilica di San Marco was formed in 1063 and completed in 1094. The remains of St. Mark were rediscovered by Vitale Faliero, 32 governors, next to the pillars of the church in the same year. The church is also attached to a low tower, which was originally considered part of the Palazzo Ducale. In the first half of the 13th century, the front hall and new facade of the church were completed, and most of the mosaic work was completed at the same time. The church dome is made of wood and incorporates Gothic architecture.

The basic structure of Basilica di San Marco has undergone substantial changes, and its decoration has also changed significantly over time. Especially in the 14th century, a Venetian ship from the East returned to the area, removing materials from some ancient buildings and adding them to the exterior of the church. Gradually, the decoration of the external wall of the Basilica di San Marco contains various marbles and carvings, some of which are much older than the building itself. From the outside, Basilica di San Marco is a typical example of Gothic architecture.

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