St. Mark's is an infinite treasure chest of wonders, but if you want to be overwhelmed by the splendor of the past, you should enter the treasure chest of all treasure chests: the Treasury of the Cathedral.
Even from the entrance, you'll be captivated by the charm of these small rooms that have been created from the remains of an ancient tower of the first Doge's Palace. The recent and excellent renovation with well-studied lighting exalts the materials of the objects in the display cases: gold, alabaster, rock crystal, onyx, and precious minerals.
You are in one of the richest ecclesiastical treasures of all of Europe, which was fortunately spared from the Napoleonic occupation. These jewelry and sculpture masterpieces mostly date back to a famous historical episode: the Fourth Crusade. On that occasion, instead of marching on Jerusalem, the crusaders took on Constantinople. Led by Doge Enrico Dandolo, the Venetians brought an amazing booty of Byzantine artwork back to the Republic of Venice.
The display cases are in chronological order: they start with Roman, Egyptian, and Asian vessels, including cups, ampoules, vases, and amphorae. I'd like to point out the magnificent chalice made for a Byzantine emperor, with its border decorated with enamel plaques.
Then you can admire objects with unusual shapes, such as a golden silver church-shaped perfume burner with ornate domes, or the "Grotto of Our Lady", a large rock crystal block in which you can see a statue of Mary. Don't miss the two Icons of St. Michael the Archangel in enamel, silver, and watermark, made by the finest Byzantium artists. In the first icon the figure of the warrior angel is in relief in colored enamels; in the second he very elegantly stands out on the gold plate.
And even more, in a dazzling crescendo, there are Gothic goldsmith's works to admire, including the embossed frontal altar door of the early 1400s from the ancient cathedral of Venice, the church of St. Pietro di Castello.
Near the exit, the ultimate wonder awaits you: the historic Desk of St. Mark, an imposing block of marble with sixth-century reliefs.
FUN FACT: you might not believe it, but there was a time when the treasure was even richer than it is now: at the end of the seventeenth century a part had to be sold to pay for the expenses of Napoleon's army, and a few years later another part was sold to finance the restoration of St. Mark's Cathedral. Imagine what the treasure must have been like three centuries ago!
Language: English