The Piazza San Marco

The Piazza San Marco

The Piazza San Marco has been the center of Venice for centuries, as the city's most important public buildings surround the plaza. The structure and façade that is seen today in the Piazza both have been drastically altered from their original state. Today, the Basilica of Saint Mark, the Procurative Nuove, the Procuratie Vecchie, the Torre dell'Orologio, and the Ala Napolenica are the monumental buildings that make up the Piazza. The importance of these monumental buildings has never changed, but each of the buildings has its own history of alterations. The result is that each building has its own unique characteristics and stylistic elements.

The original Basilica of Saint Mark church was built during 832 after the dead body of Saint Mark (or San Marco) arrived in Venice. Little of the original church is visible today, but the present structure is broadly similar to the original core. The Basilica went through three major phases of construction that altered the original church. It is known that during the year 976 there was a large fire that caused major damage. Doge Pietro Orseolo carried out reconstructions, which only took two years as the damage from the fire didn't completely destroy the building. In the 11th century the church was rebuilt again, this time to enlarge both the north and south sides of the church. Right around the 13th century the five domes were added to the building to make the skyline of the building more prominent. The original design had flatter cupolas, which was typical for Byzantine churches and was probably inspired by Constantinople. In addition, during this time a narthex was added and the two Eastern smaller apses. These dramatic and decorative additions add gothic elements to the Basilica.

By the end of the 15th century, the exterior of the basilica of San Marco had more or less reached its final formal. The evidence from this is the painting of the "Corpus Domini Procession in San Marco" by Gentile Bellini. This painting provides a detailed and precise view of the basilica in 1496. From his painting one can deduce that the gothic pinnacles, statues and cusps added to the lower lunettes were 14th and 15th century additions. Changes can also be seen in the Porta Sant' Alippio Mosaic, as spoils from the 4th crusade victory of sculptures and reliefs were added and gave an Eastern aspect to the façade walls.

There is a story that two Venetian merchants removed Saint Mark's body from its tomb in Alexandria and imported its relics in a basket of pork back to the city of Venice. "This momentous event known as the Traslatio is commemorated in the famous 13th century mosaic on the façade of the basilica over the Porta Sant' Alippio"

The Ducal Palace was built in 810 when the Doge relocated his headquarters to the Rivoalto. The palace lies at the focal point located next to the lagoon, and it represents the gothic style primarily in the exterior architecture. The façade shows a Moorish style of using shimmering inlaid surfaces and carved traceries. "The Palace served the role of Ducal residence and political and legal administrative centre continuously for almost a thousand years." During the mid 14th century the façade and the exterior were rebuilt. A new assembly hall was also built on the lagoon side. This new wing incorporated elements of the old, while the Molo facade was renewed. The huge Sala del Maggior Consiglio mosaic takes up all but two windows of the Molo façade, which was completed by 1365. These windows were placed to provide light to the center of the Sala del Maggior Consiglio and positioned because of the Molo façade. The façade and the two windows of the right hand on the lower level are the only elements preserved in the fire of 1577. A solid wall lies on top of the building, which allows the focus to be on the pattern of the red and while marble tiles. The lower arcade is a row of classical columns with gothic arches that provide strong support.

The Procuratie Nuove was "the first major public building in Venice to be erected in the purely classical style." It was designed by Scamozzi and started but was completed by Longhena in the 17th century. It served as the residence for the procuators of San Marco and the chief magistrates of the republic of Venice. Changes have been made to the original structure, which we know because of Bellini's " Corpus Domini Procession" painted in 1496. The most significant change made to the earlier structure, was the addition of an