Venice: city on water. San Marco.

San Marco. Venice.

San Marco district is a heart Venice. The area is included in San George Maggiore.
In San Marco there are most major attractions Venice.
The center of the district is the San Marco Square - the political core of the Venice Republic. Here is the residence of the Venetian rulers - doge Palace (Palazzo Ducale).

San Marco Square. Venice.

The first palace was built in the IX century, but nothing has been preserved from him, although he was on the same place. Since 1340, the palace began to take his real form.
In 1439, work on paper gates began (Porta Della Carta) on the orders of Dogs Francesco Foscari. On the door depicts a crankshake before the lion of the Holy Mark.

San Marco. Venice.

The name of the gate occurred from the state archive, located here. Here, sentences and orders were read, as well as written petitions to the government.
Several times the palace suffered in fires and rebuilt. In the XVI century, Titian and Veronese worked on the inner decoration of the palace.

In the XVII century The building of a new prison was erected, which was connected to the palace of the bridge of the sigh, according to which the convicts made a way from the court to prison, threw the last look at the world and sighed.
After the fall of the Venice Republic, the Palace met the administration of Napoleon and the Austrian government.
After it became part of the united Italy, the palace was restored and from 1923 there is a museum.

Next to the palace is basilica of St. Mark (San Marco).

According to the legend, the Holy Mark returned from Aquileia to Rome. In the way it found a storm, and he stopped near one of the islands of Rialto.
In a dream he was an angel and said:
- Peace to you, Mark, my evangelist. In this place will be resting your body.
And in 828, the two Venetian merchants returned from Egypt with the relics that belonged to the Evangelist. The merchants kidnapped the body of the Holy of Alexandria and brought him to Venice (This is told frescoes on the cathedral).
From that moment on, the Saint Mark became the patron saint of the city, and his sign - the winged lion - a symbol Venice.

St. Mark's Cathedral is the largest and most original construction in Venice, a rare example of Byzantine architecture in Europe.
The first church in this place was built in 828. At the site of the burial chapel of St. Mark, the power of which was brought from Alexandria to Venice. In the 9th century, the first bell tower was erected.
The modern view of the Basilica received in the XI century, her prototype was the church of the Twelve Apostles in Constantinople. Until 1807, the Cathedral was a court chapel with a relatives palace. And in 1807, by order of Napoleon, the Department of Patriarch was postponed to St. Mark's Cathedral Venice and basilica has become the Cathedral of the city.
Basilica played an important role in the history of the Venice Republic. It was the center of religious and public life, the place where the consecrated friends came from.
Now this is the current temple.
The facade and the interior of the cathedral is the result of centuries-old layers.
Facade with five portals is decorated with precious marble and mosaics. The facade is divided into two parts of the terrace, on which there are four horses made of gold-plated copper, sent from Constantinople to Genein Dandolo in 1204 (This is a copy, the original is stored inside). When the quadrig was decorated with the Hippodrome of Constantinople, but was taken out during the fourth crusade.
The basilica interior is typically Byzantine, in terms of Greek Cross, three nef, separated by columns, powerful arches support five domes, decorated with mosaic, the earliest of which are dated the end of the XI century.
The first mosaics appeared when Domenico Salo (1071-1084), later began to invite masters from Tuscany, which invented new techniques. Basilica Basilica Mosaics show that Venetian mosaics have already broken away from Byzantine, and have no eastern, but their own roots.
The Mozaic Square is 4 thousand square meters, they depict the scenes from the Old and New Testament, the creation of the world, the World Flood, Heavenly Manna, episodes from the life of the Holy Brand.
Everything is located in chronological order, ranging from the dome over the main altar. Then to the Central Dome, where the earth's life of Christ is depicted, further the phenomenon of the Holy Spirit and, finally, the triumph of the church in Paradise - above the entrance door.
The altar image - panel d "Oro is a skillful panel of gold, silver and precious stones in the X-XIV centuries.
Among the relics: the relics of the apostle Mark, the head of the Jacob's Junior Apostle and Titus, the relics of the Martyr Isidore, the image of Our Lady of Nikopeia.
San Marco's bell tower is one of the highest bells of Italy. Its height is 98.6 meters. On the bell tower - five bells, each of which has its name.
The bell tower served as a guard tower and a lighthouse for ships. Often the bell tower of the earthquakes from earthquakes, even a lightning in it got into it, and in 1902 she completely collapsed, on April 25, 1912 - a new bell tower was consecrated in honor of St. Mark's holiday, a copy of the destroyed, but with a strengthened construction.

www.basilicasanmarco.it.
Cathedral is open:
Mon-Sat
October-April 9.45-16.30
May - September 9.45 - 17.30
Sunday and holidays 14.00-16.00

Bell tower:
(entrance ticket 8 €)
October: 9.00 - 19.00
November - March / April (Easter): 9.30 - 15.45
March / April (Easter) - June: 9.00 - 19.00
July - September: 9.00 - 21.00

San Marko Square consists of three parts: the square itself, Piazzetta San Marco - the playground from the Grand Canal to the bell tower and Piazzetta Leonchini - the playground from the eastern side of the Basilica of San Marco near the Patriarchal Palace.

San Marco. Venice.

Another famous landmark of Venice - ponte Dei Sospiri) - Indoor transition connecting the Doge's Palace and Prison. Prisoners in custody took place on the bridge, the last time was glanced by Venice and sighed. The bridge was built in 1602 on the project Antonio Conti.
In the walls of this prison, many historical characters were visited, for example, Jacomo Casanova. By the way, he was the only one who managed to escape from the shy.
Look at his memoirs. This prison is intended for the content of state criminals and is located right on the attic of the Palace of the Doge. The roof of the palace of the indoor is not slate and not brick, but lead plates in three square feet and thickness in one line: from here and the name of the prison - Piombi, lead. You can enter there only through the Palace Gate, or, as I behaved, through the prison building, on the bridge, called the bridge of the sigh. It is impossible to climb in pjombi otherwise, as through the hall, in which state inquisitors meet; The key from it is always at the secretary, the gatekeeper of Pjombi, as soon as he will serve all the prisoners, certainly returns it to the secretary. "

On San Marco Square there are two columns: the column of St. Mark and the column of Holy Theodore of Amissian - the first Venetian patron, the building of the National Library, which stores unique manuscripts, the city museum of Correra, the hour tower and the Cafe Florian.

Cafe "Florian". San Marco. Venice.

In 1720, the most famous cafes in Venice became a Cafe Florian on St. Mark's Square.
The first manager was Valentino Florian Farnechony. Then the cafe was called "Cafe Venice Triumphal". After the fall of the Republic of Florian Florian, Florian changed the cafe in Florian.
The cafe has become a cultural center of the city, at different times he was visited by Jacomo Casanova, Carlo Goldoni, Lord Byron, Goethe and others.
In 1858, the cafe was renovated and decorated. Inside the Cafe Florian, the warm atmosphere of luxury, the frescoes on the walls are reminded of great personnel of the past.

Not far from the square is the station Gondola, from where you can make a water walk through the channels Venice.

Bacino ORSEOLO. San Marco. Venation

These were all the most famous and visited attractions, by any tourist who visited Venice.
But let's take two steps to the side to open less promoted, but no less interesting places. Pay attention to the palace, which his facade goes to a large canal immediately on the Rialto Bridge.
In the photo he is visible on the right side - a white building.

Big canal. Venation

Now there is a post office and telecommunications services here, and in 1228 it opened a German exercise warehouse in it to control commercial operations on Rialto Bridge.
IN Venice There existed at least three commodity warehouses - German, Turkish (Now it contains the Museum of Natural History in Santa Croce) and Persian (not survived to this day). These warehouses have always come out the facade on a large channel, foreign merchants lived on top and housed customs. All operations were under the control of Venetians - three masters who were called visdomini.
The German warehouse took not only products from Germany, but also Austrian, Hungarian and from other countries of Northern Europe. The palace has five floors, among them - three floors occupy residential premises. In total, there were 200 rooms in the palace, which also came to panoramic loggias covered with arches. Part of them are still preserved. It was not an exclusively warehouse, rather it was a complex that included in itself and a hotel. After the fall of the Republic in 1797, all services were abolished, and the palace moved to state ownership. In 1870, the palace took the post office.

Several churches that may be of interest.

San Moise Church (San Moise) It was laid in the 8th century, but during the following centuries was constantly rebuilt.

Church of San Miz. San Marco. Venice.

In 1668, the construction of its current baroque facade was completed. This is the work of Alessandro Tremignon, which was financed by Vincenzo Fineney, it was his bust that he decorates the main entrance. Inside the church there are sculptures and painting of the XVII-XVIII century. Among them work Tintoretto "Foot Olion" and the palm of the younger "Last Supper".
Address: Campo San Moise
Opened: Mon-Sat 9.30-12.30

Santo Stefano Church (Santo Stefano) Located not far from the Academy Bridge. This is the church of the XIV century. It is a wonderful example of Venetian Gothic.
In the Church, the works of the Tintoretto "Last Supper", "Poaming of the legs and Christ in the Garden of Jerusalem", Paris Bordon "Christ Baptist", Bartolomeo Vivarini and Sculpture "Head of St. Sebastian" Lombardo and the work of students of the XV century Lombard school. The ceiling of the church is made in the form of an inverted ship.
Address: Campo Santo Stefano
Opened: Mon-Sat 10.00-17.00
Ticket: 2.5 euro

Church of Santa Maria del Gilo (Santa Maria del Giglio) It was founded in the 10th century, but the present building is the result of the restoration of the second half of the XVII century.
Facade of the Church of the work of Giuseppe Sardi Yes Mercot, one of the most original and impressive facades in Baroque styles in Venice, decorated with a large monument of the Barbaro family, which includes the statues of five brothers and a relief map of various places in which Antonio Barbaro served as the Venetian Republic.
In the face of Molin on the right side "Madonna with a child" and "Saint Giovannino" work of Rubens.
In the church there are also work Tintoretto "Four Evangelical", Alessandro Vittoria, Sebastian Ricci, Palma younger.
Address: Campo Santa Maria Del Giglio
Opened: Mon-Sat 10.00-17.00
Ticket: 2.5 euro

Chisa Di San Vidal It was founded in 1084. The modern building refers to the XVII century. And the facade was reworked in 1700 by Architect Andrea Tiraly.
Music concerts and art exhibitions are held in the church. (www.interpretiveneziani.com)

Church of San Sidel. San Marco. Venice.

Chisa di San Gallo).


Church of San Gallo. San Marco. Venice.

Gorgeous ladder Contarini Del Bovolo (Contarini del Bovolo) In the form of a spiral leads up where the panorama opens Venice.

Staircase Contarini del Bovolo. San Marco. Venice.

Open: Apr - Oct from 10.00 to 18.00; November - Apr from 10.00 to 16.00. Ticket 3 euros.

Palace GraceLocated on the Grand Channel, is one of the most magnificent Palaces of Venice, built in 1749 by the architect of Georgio Massari. He was the last palace built before the fall of the republic. Now there are exhibitions.

San George Maggiore is the Island of San Georco. It offers a magnificent view from San Marco Square. On the island is located church of St. George (San Giorgio Maggiore)That the most who killed the dragon.

View of San George Maggiore with San Marco. Venice.

The first Basilica dedicated to St. George was erected in the VIII century. In 982, it was guaranteed by the Weekly Memo, the foundation of the Benedictine Monastery, who founded Giovanni freezing.
The modern species of the church acquired thanks to Andrea Palladio in the XVI century. After the death of Palladio, the temple completed his student Vincenzo Skamoti.

The bell tower of 75 meters high was erected in 1791 by the architect Benedetto Buratti.
A few leading Venetian artists worked on the decoration of the church, including Tintoretto. Tintoretto created seven works for this church, but only three of them survived: "The Last Supper", "Gathering Manna Heaven" and "The Break of Christ."
"The Last Supper" (1592-94) is the best job in this series. This work is the last appeal of the artist to one of his favorite topics. The picture amazes its compositions in which earth and divine parts are skillfully intertwined.
"The burial of Christ" - this work is interesting because Tintoretto depicted in the picture itself. This is his late self portrait.
In 1808, the monastery and the cathedral were closed by Napoleon. Buildings turned into a barracks. In 1951, the monastery was acquired by Count Vittorio Chini and was renovated.

San George Maggiore. San Marco. Venice.

Opened: May-Sep 9.30-12.30, 14.30-18.30
Oct-Apr 9.30-12.30, 14.30-16.30
The entrance to the church is free, the rise to the bell tower of 3 euros.

Bridge Academy (Ponte Dell "Accademia) - Last bridge over a large channel. He connects San Marco with a district