The golden Byzantine St Mark’s Basilica was founded in the ninth century as a shrine for the relics of St Mark. Built on a plan of a Greek cross, its Eastern appearance is enhanced by golden mosaics, originally created by craftsmen from the Byzantine court at Ravenna. The bell tower, which is located to one side of St Mark’s Square, is the tallest structure in Venice and offers a unique view of this fabulous city. At 318 ft (97m) high, visitors prepared to make the lengthy climb can look out over the rooftops of the city. The world famous Rialto Bridge spans the Canale Grande.
