St Mark's Basilica

The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark (officially known in Italian as the Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco and commonly known as Saint Mark's Basilica) is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, northern Italy.

Dominating over the St Mark's Square, the Basilica has become one the most crucial landmarks in Venice. It is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture. It is located at the eastern end of the Square, adjacent and connected to the Doge's Palace.

The purpose for building it was to honor St Mark after Venetian merchants stole his relics from Alexandria, Egypt, in the 9th century. Initialy, it served exclusively as the chapel of the Doge, and has only been the city's cathedral since 1807, when it became the seat of the Patriarch of Venice, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, formerly at San Pietro di Castello.

For its opulent design, gilded Byzantine mosaics, and its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power, from the 11th century on the building has been known by the nickname Chiesa d'Oro (Church of gold).