The Four Horses of St. Mark’s, stand over the main entrance of the church (above the Gothic addition). The only existing specimen of an ancient Roman quadriga, or monumental four-horse chariot. It is said that they may have origanlly adorned a Roman triumphal arch. Found in Constantinople in 1204, they were brought back to Venice. But in order to transport them aboard ship, they cut the heads off  then cast collars to hide the cuts back in Venice. 

In 1797, The republic of Venice found itself caught between the powers of the French and the Austrians. Bonaparte defeated the Austrians and then went after the Republic of Venice which fell quickly. Napoleon carried the Four Horses off to Paris but in 1815 the horses were returned to Venice. 
 
 

Today, because of damage from air pollution, they have been brought down from the Basilica and placed inside. Replicas have been put in their place which look out over the Piazza San Marco.

 
 

• See Basilica San Marco
• See San Marco
• See Overview of Venice