What You Need to Know about St Marks Bell Tower

To escape the crowds in a world tourist destination like Venice, I prefer to discover out-of-the-way sights and experiences not known to every traveler. But certain iconic sights in Venice are definite must-sees for the first-time visitor, and St. Mark’s Square, the most popular tourist spot in Venice, is one of them. The architecture here is reason enough to make the must-do list. The Basilica of San Marco, the Torre Orologio, the Palazzo Ducale, and the Campanile di San Marco are just a few prominent structures in this expansive, trapezium-shaped piazza.

At 323 feet high, the remarkable San Marco Campanile is Venice’s tallest structure, providing anyone arriving by sea their first glimpse of the city. Featuring the shining golden statue of the archangel Gabriel atop its recognizable green spire, which once served as a lighthouse, this bell tower was originally constructed in the ninth century, when it was used as a watchtower.

Throughout the years, the tower has been damaged by fire, earthquakes, and even lightening. In 1902 it collapsed, and the current tower is actually a replica of the one that crumbled. Many of the original bricks and building materials were utilized during the reconstruction, so much of this current tower dates back to the sixteenth century.

The exterior is made of red brick, and as I raise my head to the sky, the view of the tall tower from this perspective creates a unique photo op for me.

As we anticipate our ascent in an elevator installed in 1962, I admit I’m a bit nervous, although I read that when this tower was rebuilt, they had to adhere to more stringent construction laws. And in its most recent restoration, which began in 2007 and ended in 2012, a titanium ring was installed beneath the campanile’s foundations. This ensures against further leaning of the tower for years to come.

We enter the elevator and thirty seconds later, we arrive at the top. I’m relieved to reach the belfry, but the moment we exit the elevator we are confronted by the deafening clanging of the bells, not something I had expected. I glance at my watch and notice the time is 5:00 p.m. I guess we just got lucky. The incessant tolling finally stops, and we can hear each other speak again.

Once I realize what awaits us here, I forget about the excessive racket, and am mesmerized by the spectacular views. Beneath us is the beautiful piazza.

I can also see far beyond it. So many buildings create a sea of red rooftops. The panoramic views of Venice are more amazing than I could ever imagine. I can see the Venetian lagoon and in the distance, even the Alps come into view.

These incredible scenes make the elevator ride and those ear-splitting bells totally worth it.

Inside the belfry, visitors are treated to a clear view of the enormous bells.

There are five in all, but only the largest, the Marangona, survived the 1902 collapse of the campanile. The remaining four were rebuilt as a result of a decision by Pope Pius X in 1908. He offered to finance the recasting of the destroyed bells as a personal gift to the city, of which he had been patriarch during the tower’s collapse. Using fragments from the four damaged bells, molds were constructed in the same shapes and sizes, and then the original bronze was remelted in a foundry on Sant’Elena.

I’m surprised to learn how heavy they are. The largest bell weighs 7,992 pounds, and the smallest weighs 2,229 pounds. Each bell has a name and, back in the day, chimed for a specific reason. The Marangona announced the beginning and end of the working day, and its name is derived from the word marangoni, which means “workmen.” The Nona rang at noon; the Mezza Terza announced Senate sessions; the Trotteria heralded meetings of the Great Council; and the Maleficio chime announced an execution.

As we wander and explore this area inside the top of the campanile, different views appear from each of the windows. I notice the Riva degli Schiavoni, the busy promenade along the waterfront. Gondolas are moored and tourists mill around. As I gaze down onto Piazzetta San Marco, I notice the two huge pillars ­welcoming visitors to the square. What a beautiful sight. I can clearly perceive the winged lion atop one of the columns, the Column of San Marco. This lion has been the symbol of Venice since the days of the Venetian Republic. The other column is known as the Column of San Teodoro and features a statue of him killing a dragon. Later I learn about its history. Saint Theodore was the first patron saint of Venice and is considered the protector of the city. Venetians call this column Todaro, and the gelato shop next to it gleaned its name from this historic landmark.

As we wander around, I gaze out the windows from another angle and catch a glimpse of the small island of San Giorgio Maggiore in the Venetian Lagoon. The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, a beautiful baroque-style church sits next to a building situated on a point of land, where the Grand Canal meets the Giudecca Canal. That triangular-shaped building is known as the Punta della Dogana, an art museum and former customhouse.

An interesting bit of history adds to my experience here. Galileo Galilei used this level of the campanile as an observatory, and a plaque on this viewing level memorializes the day he demonstrated his telescope to the Doge of Venice Antonio Priuli, on August 21, 1609. The sculpted Italian words read: Galileo Galilei con il suo cannocchiale da qui il 21 Agosto 1609 allargava gli orizzonti dell’uomo nel quarto centenario.

The exceptional views from here are well worth the price of admission, and since stairs are nonexistent, ­­the speedy elevator ride to the top is a real plus. This visit to St. Mark’s Campanile is a highlight of my trip to Venice.

Have you been to the top of this campanile? I’d love to hear abut your experience, so please consider leaving a comment.

Grazie and Ciao.

Read more about Venice and other places to see there in my award-winning Italy travel memoir,
THE VENICE I KNOW.

Available in paperback, kindle, and audiobook.  Click the link to purchase on Amazon or Audible.Have you been to Venice? I’d love to hear your stories, so please leave a comment.

Grazie and Ciao