St. Mark’s Basilica, which has majestically dominated Venice’s Piazza San Marco for over 900 years, is unique for the wealth of its history and for the magnificence of its facade and interior. It was designed by an unknown Byzantine architect, who supposedly modeled it after the Apostoleion in Constantinople, giving it an opulent style, which clearly reflects the influence of the Orient. Some 8,000 square meters of stunning mediaeval mosaics, made from gold, semi-precious stones and Venetian glass, cover its walls, and cupolas. Countless numbers of pilgrims and tourists have been awestruck by the golden magnificence of this, the largest and most lavishly decorated 11th century church. The Basilica has been a very significant holy place since the arrival of the sacred remains of St. Mark in 828 A.D. They lie there to this day, where the faithful continue to visit to express their devotion. This carefully researched tour guides visitors through the Basilica describing its incomparable mosaics, renowned golden Pala d’Oro and its many other significant treasures.