St. Mark’s Basilica is the most famous of the city’s churches and one of the best known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture. It lies at the eastern end of the Piazza San Marco, adjacent and connected to the Doge’s Palace. Originally it was the chapel of the Doge, and has only been the city’s cathedral since 1807.
Know for its opulent design, gold ground mosaics, and its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power, from the 11th century on, the building has been nicknamed Chiesa d’Oro ( The Church of Gold).
Much of the Basilica is currently under renovation, but if you google it you can see the actual gold splendour covering an area of about 8000 m2.
I don’t think this place is ever *not* under renovation… -_-
You might be onto something here. I think they take all the construction stuff down for a day snap some pictures for postcards and that is it..
It really needs it though. It could be so much prettier.