Private St. Mark's Basilica after hours:
The gold mosaics, in silence
Destination
Venice, Italy
Duration
1.3 hours
Tour size
Max 6
Language
English
Overview
By day, St. Mark's Basilica moves thousands of people through in a shuffle. This private St. Mark's Basilica tour brings you in after it closes to the public, when the crowds are gone and 99,000 square feet of gold mosaics glow in near-silence. You'll also descend into the crypt, a part of the basilica few visitors ever see.
- •Enter St. Mark's after closing, long after the day's crowds have left
- •Stand beneath gold mosaics lit for the evening, in something close to silence
- •Get an unhurried, front-row view of the jewel-encrusted Pala d'Oro
- •Descend into the crypt where St. Mark's relics were once hidden
- •Hear the basilica's stories of stolen relics, symbolism, and lost treasures
What's included
- An after-closing access ticket to St. Mark's Basilica
- A local English-speaking private guide
You will visit
- St. Mark's Square
- St. Mark's Basilica, after hours
- The Pala d'Oro altarpiece
- The Crypt of St. Mark
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What to expect
The basilica, after closing
You'll meet your guide in St. Mark's Square and head inside after the basilica has shut to the public for the day. With the daytime crowds gone, the space changes completely: the air is still, footsteps echo, and the great domes feel close. It's the basilica as worshippers, not tourists, once knew it.
Mosaics and the Pala d'Oro
Above you, 99,000 square feet of gold mosaic glow under the evening lighting, and with no one rushing you along, your guide can actually point out the details and the symbolism. You'll also get a front-row look at the Pala d'Oro, the golden altarpiece set with hundreds of precious stones. These are works most visitors glimpse over shoulders; here you have the time to take them in.
"By day you queue, shuffle, and crane your neck. After hours, I can stop you under a single mosaic and let you just look for as long as you want."
Elena,
WalksDevour guide
"Almost no one sees the crypt. Standing where they hid St. Mark's body to keep it safe, beneath the church, after dark, is a moment that sticks with you."
Denise,
WalksDevour guide
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Frequently asked questions
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