Your St Mark's Basilica tour begins in Piazza San Marco, the beating heart of Venice. Your guide will share fascinating stories of the square, once called "the drawing room of Europe," before leading you inside the basilica. Here, a world of art and legend awaits.

Highlights of the tour include:

• The Golden Mosaics: Covering thousands of square meters, these mosaics depict stories from the Old and New Testaments. Your guide will help you understand their symbolism and the centuries-long process of their creation.
• Mark the Evangelist: Learn about how the relics of Mark the Evangelist were smuggled from Alexandria to Venice in the 9th century, hidden in barrels of pork to fool Muslim inspectors.
• The Bronze Horses: Originally part of a monument in Constantinople and brought to Venice after the Fourth Crusade, the horses are a powerful symbol of Venice's glory and its ties to the Eastern world. You'll see replicas on the facade and the originals inside.
• The Pala d’Oro (Golden Altarpiece): An opulent example of Byzantine craftsmanship adorned with thousands of gems, which you'll admire up close during your visit (not included in the shared visit but you can pay the supplement there).
• The Crypt: Available in the private tour only, descend into the basilica’s mysterious undercroft, where early doges were buried and floodwaters occasionally rise.
• The Balcony and View of Piazza San Marco: Marvel at the sweeping view over Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, and the lagoon from the basilica's upper level.