St Mark’s Basilica · A Saint Brought From Elsewhere

St Mark’s Basilica in Venice holds the remains of Saint Mark. It is said that when two Venetian merchants brought the relics back from Alexandria they covered the cargo with pork, and so got past inspection.

The golden mosaics of the basilica glow across the whole ceiling under the lights; the columns and reliefs were taken from older buildings in the East and pieced together like a book someone wrote in a mess.

Venetians call it “the Golden Church.” The rule at the door is this: no sleeveless vests, and do not linger in front of the icons, because the people behind you need to get past.

Historical Mysteries / Venice · Italy / 828