In Italy, as in many other parts of the world, churches are traditionally built with their main altar facing East. In Rome, San Pietro, San Giovanni in Laterano, and Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri all face East. In Florence, the beautiful San Lorenzo, with its breathtaking façade designed by Brunelleschi, also looks toward the rising sun.
In Venice, the exotic Basilica di San Marco, the symbol itself of the city, faces the Orient, too. The practice, which dates back to early Christianity, used to be very common. Back then, churches were designed to face the rising sun, as a way to symbolically link it with the resurrection of Christ.
