The Saint Mark’s Basilica was built in 1239 at PLAZZA DELLE BIADE (the Square of Grain) and was the cathedral of Crete. The temple was an important building for the citizens of Crete during the Venetian era. All the officials and rulers of the island took up their duties in an official ceremony held at the temple and people would ask for the Saint’s protection when in need. Moreover, the Dukes and the members of the island’s aristocracy were buried in sarcophagi with bas-relief decorations. Two of these graves are visible today on the eastern side of the temple. At present, the building is housing the Municipal Art Gallery and works selected from the rich art collection of Heraklion Municipality, such as paintings by Maria Fioraki, Lefteris Kanakakis, Thomas Fanourakis and many other famous artists. The idea for the temporary housing of the Municipal Art Gallery of Heraklion in Saint Mark’s Basilica came up following the successful exhibitions of the works of Doménikos Theotokópoulos (1990), of the Icons of the Cretan School (1993) and of the Fayum mummy portraits (1998) which also included relevant international conferences.