Pala d'Oro

Pala d'Oro (Italian, "Golden Panel") is the high altar retable of the Basilica di San Marco in Venice (and in Italian may refer to other gold altar frontals elsewhere). It is universally recognized as one of the most refined and accomplished works of Byzantine enamel, with both front and rear sides decorated. It was created and expanded in several phases over many centuries. Most of the enamel panels were made in Constantinople or Italy in a Byzantine style, but some were probably looted in Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade in 1204 and brought from there to Venice.