San Marco - Venice

San Marco
San Marco Square is the heart and historic city centre of Venice. Two landmarks stand next to it. One of them is St Mark’s Basilica that is an imitation of Constantinople's Church of the Twelve Apostles. The basilica was consecrated in 1094 and soon became one of the most recogniseable object in Venice. It is definitely worth seeing as its interiors are richely decorated with medieval mosaics and the treasury includes items stolen during the raid on Constantinopole that took place in 1204. The most famous of them is a thorn that is believed to be the crown worn by Christ. Second interesting building that is located by the St. Mark’s Square is Gothic Doge’s Palace called Palazzo Ducale. At present it houses museum that boasts of large collection of paintings. Detailed information concerning it may be found on the website http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/ Apart from it you may find several other palaces in San Marco: Palazzo Contarini – Fasan, Palazzo Contarini dal Bovolo, Palazzo Farsetti, Palazzo Fortuny (Pesaro degli Orfei), Palazzo Franchetti, Palazzo Giustinian Lolin - Fondazione Ugo e Olga Levi, Palazzo Grassi, Palazzo Loredan, Palazzo Pisani, Palazzo Pisani – Gritti and Palazzo Rota. There are also few cultural institutions in San Marco like: Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Cinema Rossini and Gran Teatro La Fenice. Like in other districts in San Marco you will find lots of churches: Chiesa di San Bartolomeo, Chiesa di San Maurizio, Chiesa di San Moisè, Chiesa di San Salvador, Chiesa di San Samuele, Chiesa di San Zulian (Giuliano), Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio (Zobenigo) and Chiesa di Santo Stefano (Protomartire). San Marco is definitely the most privileged and prestigious district in Venice.