The church of San Marco in Rome

San Marco

San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio, to give the church its full name, was originally built by Pope Mark (r. 336), making it the first place of public Christian worship in the heart of Rome. However, San Marco, which is the national church of Venice, has been subsequently restored and rebuilt on several occasions. The last major reworking was completed by Cardinal Angelo Maria Quirini between 1735 and 1750.

The sculpture of St Mark (and lion), above the entrance to the church, is attributed to Isaia da Pisa (active 1447-64).

The beautiful mosaics in the apse were added by Pope Gregory IV (r. 827-44).

The nave ceiling (1465-68) bears the coat of arms of Pope Paul II (r. 1464-1471). The work of Giovannino and Marco de' Dolci, it is one of only two 15th century wooden ceilings to survive in a Roman church; the other is at Santa Maria Maggiore.

The large stucco reliefs (in the nave and sanctuary) depict the twelve apostles and were executed by a variety of artists in the 1740s.

The church of San Marco is home to a fine collection of funerary monuments, most of which date back to the 18th century.

Embedded into the right wall of the portico of the church is the tomb slab of Vanozza Cattanei, mistress of Cardinal Borgia, later Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492-1503), to whom she bore four children, including the infamous Cesare and Lucrezia.

San Marco

Apse

Nave ceiling

Gallery

Entrance to the church of San Marco, Rome

St Mark the Evangelist by Isaia da Pisa (active 1447-64), church of San Marco, Rome

A detail of the apse mosaic in the church of San Marco, Rome

18th century stucco relief, church of San Marco, Rome

Coat of arms of Pope Paul II, church of San Marco, Rome

Funerary monument to Cardinal Cristoforo Vidman, San Marco

18th century funerary monument to Cardinal Cristoforo Vidman, the church of San Marco, Rome

18th century funerary monument to Francesco Erizzo, church of San Marco, Rome

Funerary monument to Francesco Erizzo, church of San Marco, Rome

18th century funerary monument to Luigi Prioli, church of San Marco, Rome

Funerary monument to Cardinal Luigi Prioli, San Marco, Rome

'Charity', a detail of the funerary monument to' Luigi Prioli, the church of San Marco, Rome

'Justice', a detail of the funerary monument to Luigi Prioli, the church of San Marco, Rome

18th century funerary monument to Leonardo Pesaro by Antonio Canova, church of San Marco, Rome

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San Marco

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