~ Basilici di San Marco ~ by Carnation
There were once 3 enormous columns, plundered from Constantinople and erected here in 1172. One eventually toppled into the canal and was never seen again. Criminals were executed between the 2 remaining columns right up to the 18th century and because of this history, some Venetians, out of superstition will not walk between them.St.Theodore, a crocodile-like-dragon, was the patron saint of Venice before St-Mark's relics came to the city in 828. The winged lion Marcus is now the city's symbol, possibly a sculpture from Assyria dating back to 5th century BC.