Everyone knows about the exceptional mosaics at St Mark’s cathedral in Venice, however, there are still a few tricks to visiting that can really make your visit more enjoyable and thought-provoking.

Apse Dome, St Mark's Cathedral, Venice, Italy

What time to visit. Try to visit from 11:30 AM TO 12:30 PM. During this time, the church turns on all of the interior lights, making for excellent viewing of the mosaics. If you go at any other time of day, the natural light is insufficient to allow for proper viewing and the church’s appearance is very dark. Continue reading

Everyone knows about the exceptional mosaics at St Mark’s cathedral in Venice, however, there are still a few tricks to visiting that can really make your visit more enjoyable and thought-provoking.

Apse Dome, St Mark's Cathedral, Venice, Italy

What time to visit. Try to visit from 11:30 AM TO 12:30 PM. During this time, the church turns on all of the interior lights, making for excellent viewing of the mosaics. If you go at any other time of day, the natural light is insufficient to allow for proper viewing and the church’s appearance is very dark. Continue reading

Jerusalem Mosaic in the Church of the Map (Madaba, Jordan)

The unassuming Church of St George (a.k.a., “The Church of the Map”) in Madaba, Jordan, contains an impressive, and by far the most well-known, mosaic in the Holy Land. The mosaic is much more interesting from a historical perspective than from aesthetic standpoint (the rendering is rather atypically poor, in my opinion, when compared to the other 6th century mosaics in the city). Continue reading

The Deesis in Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)

Deesis (Christ Pantocrator) Mosaic in Hagia Sophia

In Byzantine art, the Deesis is a traditional representation of Christ enthroned, flanked by Mary and St. John the Baptist; these two figures are appealing to Christ for mercy on behalf of the beholder (viewer) on Judgment Day.

In Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, visitors to the south gallery (upstairs) can find a fantastic mosaic image of the Deesis.  Made in the late 13th century (possibly 1261), this is the highest detail mosaic in the church and one of the most impressive mosaics in the world. Continue reading