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A marvellous succession of domes, columns, arches and spires, interspersed with marble statues, screens and glittering mosaics, greets tourists in Piazza San Marco. The northernmost arch houses mosaics dating from the 13th century, which depict the basilica itself. Other mosaics are 17th- and 18th-century copies.

These glorious mosaics of precious gold-leaf over glass tiles were created in the Byzantine tradition by expert craftsmen, and give detailed accounts of the Old Testament. The 13th-century cupola’s concentric circles recount 24 episodes from Genesis, including the Creation and Adam and Eve.

The paving is a mosaic masterpiece of multi-coloured stones on uneven levels, evocative of the sea. Geometrical designs sit alongside animal shapes.

The dazzling jewel-encrusted gold screen was commissioned in Constantinople in 976 but frequently added to at later dates. It boasts 250 panels bearing 1,927 authentic gems and cloisonné plaques.

The central dome has a spectacular array of early 13th-century mosaics, depicting the New Testament.Christ in Glory is shown above depictions of the Virtues.

Probably the first dome of the basilica to be adorned with mosaics, it is illustrated with the descent of the Holy Ghost , seen as a flame over the heads of the 12 Apostles.

Inside the fascinating museum are the famed quartet of horses crafted from bronze and covered in gold. Booty from the Fourth Crusade, these triumphal Graeco-Roman equine figures originally graced the Hippodrome in Constantinople. They have been restored to their former glory.

Replicas of the proud horses now in the museum stand on this wonderful balcony overlooking Piazza San Marco. Visitors can see the ancient lead gutter spouts, as well as clutches of columns, whose varied dimensions and decorative styles indicate their diverse origins.

The inspiration for these red porphyry rock figures from 4th-century Egypt is unknown. They may represent Saracens who, scheming to make off with treasure, poisoned each other and ended up as stone.

The basilica’s glittering riches include precious chalices of rock crystal enamelled by medieval silver- and goldsmiths and reliquaries from Venice’s eastern conquests, including parts of the True Cross.