Santa Maria Formosa is a church located in the Piazza San Marco, Venice. It was originally built in the 6th century by Venetian Doge Giustiniano Particiaco as a chapel dedicated to St. Mary of Health. By the 12th century it had been enlarged into a full-fledged basilica and became known as Santa Maria Formosa due to its unique shape. The façade of the building was later redone in Renaissance style in 1492 and has remained largely unchanged since then. Inside, visitors can admire its stunning artwork from various periods including paintings from Giovanni Bellini, Paolo Veronese and Jacopo Tintoretto. The church also houses important relics such as an icon of Virgin Mary believed to have been painted by St Luke himself and some of St Mark’s remains which were brought back from Alexandria in 828 AD after being stolen by Venetian merchants earlier that year.