Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pala d'Oro
Tucked behind the main altar containing
St Mark's sarcophagus
is the Pala
d'Oro, studded with 2000 emeralds, amethysts, sapphires, rubies, pearls and oth-
er gemstones. But the most priceless treasures here are biblical figures in vibrant
cloisonné, begun in Constantinople in AD 976 and finished by Venetian gold-
smiths in 1209.
The enamelled saints have wild, unkempt beards and wide eyes fixed on Jesus,
who glances sideways at a studious St Mark as Mary throws up her hands in won-
der - an understandable reaction to such a captivating scene. Look closely to spot
touches of Venetian whimsy: falcon-hunting scenes in medallions along the bot-
tom, and the by-now-familiar scene of St Mark's body smuggled out of Egypt on
the right.
Tesoro
Holy bones and booty from the Crusades fill the t reasury, including a 10th-cen-
tury rock-crystal ewer with winged feet made for Fatimid Caliph al-'Aziz-bi-llah.
Don't miss bejeweled 12th-century Archangel Michael, featuring tiny, feisty
enamelled saints that appear ready to break free of their golden setting and mount
a miniature attack on evil. Velvet- padded boxes preserve doges' remains alongside
alleged saints' relics, including St Roch's femur, St Mark's thumb, the arm St Ge-
orge used to slay the dragon and even a lock of the Madonna's hair.
