Saint Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco)

Chosen to be the final resting place of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Basilica di San Marco enshrines the country's history and serves as the dearest symbol of Venice. Located just off the Grand Canal, the gleaming basilica dominates Piazza San Marco and ceaselessly stuns with its immense richness. With the origins as a Byzantine church, it was developed over the years, and today the influence of different styles in decoration manifests itself at its most impressive. Complex mosaics mix with precious marbles, outstanding bas-reliefs, and even Oriental adornment to produce a whole that is simply one of a kind and unrivaled.