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San Marco square
The 'drawing room of Europe', as Napoleon described
the Piazza San Marco, is the focus
of Venetian life. The elegant piazza is lined
with
historical cafés, like the ancient “Quadri” and “Florian” which
offer you the possibility of relaxing
for a while in a perfect Byzantine setting
listening to soothing
Italian classical music. |
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Around the other
side of the square , on the north side and adjoining
the clock tower, stand the Procuratie
Vecchie (15th- 16th century). The Procuratie
Nuove (17th century) occupy the south
side. The bell tower was built before 1000 with
the the steeple being added in 1513; in 1902
the original tower collapsed and was rebuilt
identically using the original decorative materials.
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The
basilica of San
Marco, was built in 900 after
the arrival in Venice of the body of the Christian
apostle “San Marco” in the year 828.
The basilica was constructed in the style of
Church of the twelve Apostles in Constantinople,
and from this is derived the Greek Cross plan
with five domes. The basilica is an unique monument
to the rich history of Venice; the gothic decoration
and facade were added in the 14th and 15th centuries.
The building’s Byzantine character is most
visible in the big medieval mosaics that tell
the histories of Saint Mark and episodes from
the old and the new testaments. Across the west
front extends a vestibule from which five portals
open upon the Piazza San Marco- the facade here
is encrusted with marble slabs and mosaics. In
the interior the lower walls are sheathed with
veined marbles and the vaults and domes are completely
covered with beautifully colour mosaics which
spread over a golden background.
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