The Horses of Saint Mark (Italian: Cavalli di San Marco), also known as the Triumphal Quadriga, is a set of Roman bronze statues of four horses, originally part of a monument depicting a quadriga (a four-horse carriage used for chariot racing). The horses were placed on the facade, on the loggia above the porch, of St Mark's Basilica in Venice, northern Italy after the sack of Constantinople in 1204. They remained there until looted by Napoleon in 1797 but were returned in 1815. The sculptures have been removed from the facade and placed in the interior of St Mark's for conservation purposes, with replicas in their position on the loggia.
Fresco mosaic on the front facade - Ascension of Christ
View of St Mark’s Basilica from the square. St Mark’s Basilica is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. It is one of the most famous and best known examples of Italy-Byzantine architecture, inspired by Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. Originally it was the chapel of the Doge, but is now city’s cathedral since 1807. The basilica was started in 987 AD and was completed in 1092 AD
