2023-10-03 St. Marks

Special note: We got slightly delayed in our blogging. We will however finish this trip. Let’s just say we took a detour down a Venice canal.

HHR: I understand that today is the visit to St. Mark’s but the pictures seem to be out of order.

Jerry: I think that you should just work with what you got. We got a two day pass and were running from place to place

Joyce: Yes, I used the zig zag approach to keep my troops in order.

HHR: What is St. Mark’s Basilica?

Larry: It is where the relics of St Mark the Evangelist also known as John Mark or Saint Mark, is the person who is traditionally ascribed to be the author of the Gospel of Mark. However there is a new theory.

HHR: Oh Larry, I knew that you would have the latest information. You are so interesting.

Debbie: Yes Larry, go ahead and tell us.

Larry: Debbie, I am going to let you share that information

Debbie: I thought so. One theory is that  Alexander the Great, was disguised as Mark’s body in order to save the famous conqueror’s body from destruction by Christians.

Joyce: What? I never saw that. I arranged our tour to be when the lights were on to see the Mosaics 11:3 to 12:30. They can’t change that.

HHR: What about the 4 horses?

Jerry: The Triumphal Quadriga is the group of bronze four horses at St. Mark’s Basilica. They started out in Constantinople. During the Crusade ini 1204, the horses were brought to Venice. When Napoleon captured Venice, he brought the horses to Paris and placed it on the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, which is now topped with other horses.

HHR: What is a doge? A big dog?

Joyce: The ruler. The cathedral is attached to the doge palace. We also saw a museum.

HHR: Is Venice sinking?

Debbie: Maybe If you want to see it then you should add to your travel plans. The city has battled rising water for centuries but the water seems to be winning. Several factors, both natural and man-made, cause Venice to flood about 100 times a year