Turning to the W., a few paces bring us to the small Piazza
San Marco, with its gardens, and to —
San Marco (Pl. II, 17), incorporated in the S. side of the
Palazzo Venezia. This church, said to date from the time of Con-
stantine, was re-erected in 833 by Gregory IV., and adorned in
1469 with its fine vestibule. The interior, restored in the 17th
cent., was modernized by Card. Quirini in 1744.
Vestibule. Roman and ancient Christian inscriptions, built into the
walls. The relief of St. Mark, above the handsome inner principal portal,
is perhaps by Ant. Filarete (p. 365). — The Interior is approached by a
descent of several steps. With the exception of the tribune and the
beautiful coffered coiling (by Marco del Dolci; 1467-71) , all the older
parts have been disfigured by restorations in the baroque style. The
Tribune, with its handsome pavement (opus Alexandrinum), lies several
steps higher than the rest of the church. The mosaics (in the centre
Christ, to the left, SS. Mark, Agapetus, and Agnes, to the right, SS.
Felicianus and Mark escorting Gregory IV.) date from the most degraded
Period of this art (9th cent.) and have been justly described as 'utter
caricatures'. In the Right Aisle: 1st Chapel, Altar-piece by Palma
Giovane, the Resurrection; 3rd Chap., Adoration of the Magi, by Maratta.
In the Left Aisle: 2nd Chap., Altar-relief, Greg. Barbadigo distributing
alms, by Ant. d'Este. — The Sacristy contains an altar and canopy by
Mino da Fiesole and Giov. Dalmata, and an admirable portrait of Pope
Mark, by Melozzo da Forlì.
The Via di San Marco terminates in the Via d'Aracoeli, which
to tle left leads to the Piazza d'Aracoeli (p. 270) and the Capitol,
and to the right to the Piazza del Gesù (p. 256).
b. Museo Kircheriano and Ethnograplioal-and
Prehistoric Museum. Doria and Colonna Galleries.
To the right and left from the S. end of the Corso, 5-6 min. from
the Piazza di Venezia, are several interesting collections. The Museo
Kircheriano and Ethnographical and Prehistoric Museum is open daily;
the Doria Gallery on Tues. and Frid. only; and the Colonna Gallery
on Tues., Thurs., and Sat. (comp. pp. 172, 178).
The Via del Caravita, which diverges to the W. from the Corso
beside the Savings Bank (p. 201) to the S. of the Piazza Colonna,
and its continuation the Via del Seminario beyond the small Piazza
Sant' Ignazio (Pl. II, 18) lead almost straight on to the Pantheon.
In the Piazza Sant' Ignazio rises the Jesuit church of —
Sant' Ignazio (Pl. II, 18), erected from Domenichino's plans
by the Padre Grassi, with a façade by Algardi. The building,
somewhat in the style of the Gesù (p. 256), was begun by Card.
Ludovisi in 1626, after the canonisation of the saint, but was not
completed till 1685, The interior is decorated in a gorgeous baro-
que style. The paintings on the vaulting, dome, and apse, and the
picture over the high-altar are by the Padre Pozzo, an able master
of perspective, by whom the chapel of San Luigi Gonzaga, in the
aisle to the right, was also designed. The paintings on the ceiling