Saint Mark’s Cathedral and Piazza
We came upon St. Mark’s Square quite suddenly as we were tooling around town. Our first view was about what you see directly below.
The Bell Tower
We cruised around the square and then headed up to the top of the bell tower to check out the view. You can see a three-photo composition at the top of the main Venice page.
St. Mark’s Curious Facade
Nobody quite knows who designed Saint Mark's Basilica, but the unique fusion of Oriental and Occidental in the facade illustrates the history of Venetian trade in a deliciously singular manner. After all Saint Mark’s is a Christian church begun in 878 A.D. when the first Islamic Empire was in a state of rapid expansion. The minaret-shaped designs mimic mosques in the Middle East, but the spires and decoration more closely resemble the pagodas of Southeast Asia. And of course the symbology of the ornamentation is classic Christian. While this is not the proper (and certainly not authoritative) forum for discussion of architectural influences, it's quite remarkable to witness a building that merges aspects of three different religious systems into one with remarkable cohesion.
The Plaza is also a great place to have lunch, hang out, or feed the pigeons.
Tags Walkabout, Architecture
Venice Series | All Italy Locations
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