The airy Gothic masterpiece is built with pink Veronese marble and white Istrian stone. The Feast of St. Mark, the Evangelist, patron saint of Venice, is April 25. A sculptural lion can also be seen high above the entrance of the Piazza on a tall column.
Romanesque carvings adorn the arch over the main portal, or doorway.
This view is from a taxi on the Grand Canal. The name supposedly came from the sighs of prisoners as they were led from their trial in the palace to their sentence. There are panoramic images of St. Mark's Square and the Grand Canal on the Italian Scene page.