Church of Saint Mark

The Church of Saint Mark stands at Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 17, beside Tašmajdan Park in central Belgrade, Serbia. It is a Serbian Orthodox church completed in 1940 in the Serbo-Byzantine style, modelled on the medieval monastery of Gračanica in Kosovo, with five domes and a facade of alternating bands of red and pale brick. Inside, visitors find a large, dim hall lit by chandeliers, with replicas of medieval frescoes covering the walls, among them copies of the White Angel of Mileševa and portraits of Serbian rulers. The church holds the tomb of Emperor Stefan Dušan, the 14th-century ruler whose remains were moved here, and there is a small collection of relics and icons. The church is open daily from about 8:00 to 18:00, but it is closed to tourists during services, when visitors should wait quietly or return later. Entry is free. A visit takes 30 to 45 minutes, and many people combine it with a walk through the adjoining Tašmajdan Park, which has shaded paths, a fountain and sports courts. The best photo angle of the exterior is from the park side, looking up at the stacked domes against the sky, and from across the boulevard for the full facade. Inside, photography rules vary, so ask before shooting. Crowds are low on most days. Orthodox holidays and weekends see more worshippers, and weekday mornings are the calmest. Visitors should dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, and men typically remove hats.