The Gospel

. . . according to Mark.

The Piazza San Marco, better known as St. Mark's Square may be the most famous landmark in Venice.  

At the far end is the Basilica of San Marco.  

St. Mark was born in the 1st century.  Although the author of the Gospel of Mark is not known, it is attributed to this Mark.  He is also founder of the Church of Alexandria in Egypt and although his remains were once in Alexandria, it is believed they were stolen, taken to Venice and are now in this basilica dedicated to him.  

Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco, or St. Mark's Basilica was consecrated in the year 1071. We've seen the inside of a lot of basilicas, but we decided to forego this one.

I found this photo of the interior online and it is certainly beautiful.

Connected to the basilica is the Doge's Palace.  I admit I didn't know what a doge is.  Doges of Venice were the chief magistrates of Venice for over a thousand years.  The were elected for life by the aristocracy of the city.  

This is one side of the basilica.  It connects to the Doge's Palace.

San Marco Square also includes the Procuratie Vecchie (Old Law Courts) and the Procuratie Nuove (New Law Courts).

This is the Campanile (bell tower) San Marco.  It was built between 874 and 1150 and reconstructed after it collapsed in 1902.  We've climbed a lot of campaniles, but we decided to forego this one.

San Marco Square

Venice, Italy