Founded in the 4th century and repeatedly renovated until the 18th century, the Basilica of San Marco Evangelista in Rome is nestled between the façade and the courtyard of Palazzo Venezia, which in the mid-15th century was the residential palace for Venice-born Pope Paul II, and later became the embassy of the Republic of Venice.

The basilica, dedicated to St. Mark the Evangelist, is located in the small Piazza di San Marco adjoining Piazza Venezia. Paul II, descendant of a noble Venetian family, assigned the church to the Venetian people living in Rome. First built in 336 by Pope Mark I, it was renovated a few times in the Middle Ages, with the addition of new works of art to embellish it, including precious 9th century mosaics in the apse, featuring a blessing Christ in the middle, pope Gregory IV, the one who commissioned the mosaics, to his right holding a model of the church, in the presence of Mark the Evangelist, Pope Saint Mark and other saints.