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Saint Mark’s Campanile (Campanile di San Marco) is the bell tower for Saint Mark’s Basilica. It stands 99 meters high and is detached from the church. It’s located in Piazza San Marco in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Venice, Italy.
History
The Campanile was originally built in the late 9th century as a lighthouse and watch tower. Construction on that tower finished in the mid 12th century, but it had to be rebuilt several times between the 12th and 14th centuries. It took its current form after it was damaged in an earthquake in March 1511, with work completed on July 6, 1513.
Although suffering damage from fires and lightning strikes over the next few centuries, the tower succumbed to a botched construction job, collapsing on July 14, 1902. It was rebuilt again and opened on April 25, 1912.
Loggia
The loggia of the Campanile was built by Jacopo Sansovino between 1537 and 1549. It was rebuilt after the collapse in 1902.
The loggia features three arches. Bronze statues of Minerva, Apollo, Mercury, and Peace, fill each niche next to the arches. Above the arches are marble reliefs of The Island of Candia (left), Venus as Justice (center), and The Island of Cyprus (right).
The ornamental bronze gate was made by Antonio Gai between 1735 and 1737, with a Lion of Saint Mark and other figures on top.
The Top
There has been a statue of the Archangel Gabriel at the top of the Campanile since 1513. In 1820, a copper statue embossed in gold made by Luigi Zandomeneghi replaced the original wooden one. The current statue was made of fragments from the 1820 model.
On the belfry, there are statues on each side. Two sides contain the Lion of Saint Mark while the other two contain Justice.
Visiting the Observation Deck
Adult admission to the Campanile is €10 (as of August 2024). You can ride an elevator to the belfry and enjoy spectacular views of Venice.
Bells
Once at the top, you’ll immediately notice the bells. There are five bells and each one had a different purpose. The Marangona was the biggest bell and rang to signal the beginning and the end of the work day, while the Nona rang to signal midday. The Mezza Terza rang to signal Senate meetings and the Trottiera called members of the Greater Council (Maggior Consiglio) to council meetings. Finally, the Renghiera announced executions.
The bells were destroyed when the Campanile collapsed in 1902. They were recast and donated by Pope Pius X.
Galileo
Also at the top, there’s a plaque commemorating Galileo Galilei demonstrating his telescope to the authorities of Venice. This took place on August 21, 1609.
The Views
As for the views, to the southwest, you can spot the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute and the Royal Gardens.
From the west side, you can see Piazza San Marco and landmarks in the San Marco and Dorsoduro districts.
To the north, you can see the San Marco, San Polo, and Cannaregio districts. There are also fantastic views of the Moors on top of the Clock Tower, located just below on the square.
The Basilica of Saints John and Paul (Zanipolo) can be seen in the distance to the northeast, while looking down you can see the domes of Saint Mark’s Basilica.
To the east, you can see the Castello district including the Church of San Zaccaria.
The Doge’s Palace is directly below to the southeast, while further in the distance is the rest of the Castello district including the Riva degli Schiavoni.
Finally, to the south just underneath the Campanile is the Piazzetta di San Marco with the Columns of Saint Theodore and Saint Mark. In the distance is the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore.
