Basilica di San Marco

The private chapel of the Doges. Built in rivalry with the Emperors of Constantinople. From its foundation in 828 to celebrate the arrival of St Mark's body from Alexandria, where it had been stolen by two Venetian merchants (supposedly the body was hidden under a barrel of pork), this was the religious heart of the Venetian Republic.

The present building, dating from 1094, is like an Aladdin's Cave, crammed with every conceivable treasure. The splendour of the glowing mosaics and precious marbles is very eastern in feel. Don't miss the Pala d'Oro, covered in gold, precious stones and enamel, behind the high altar, one of the most astonishing works of the Middle Ages.