Wanloria › Destinations › Venice › St Mark's Campanile
St Mark's Campanile
Bell tower of the basilica and the tallest structure in Venice, at 98.6 metres. Its square brick shaft measures about 12 metres per side and ends in the bell chamber and a spire with the golden statue of the Archangel Gabriel, which serves as a weathervane. It was begun in 888, under Doge Pietro Tribuno, as a watchtower, and also served as a lighthouse before becoming a bell tower. A lightning rod of 1776, the work of Abbot Giuseppe Toaldo, put an end to the lightning strikes that hit it. It collapsed on 14 July 1902 and was rebuilt 'as it was and where it was'; it reopened in 1912. At its base stands Jacopo Sansovino's Loggetta. Today you go up by lift to the bell chamber in about 30 seconds. From the bell chamber there is an elevated view of St Mark's Square.
Add it to your trip on Wanloria →Things to do at St Mark's Campanile: 4 missions
- Take the lift up to the bell chamberBuy your ticket, take the lift up to the bell chamber and look out through the arches that surround the bells.
- Spot the golden Archangel GabrielFrom the square, look to the very top of the tower and find the golden statue of the Archangel Gabriel that crowns the spire and serves as a weathervane.
- Photograph the basilica's domes from aboveFrom the bell chamber, find the angle from which the basilica's domes and the Doge's Palace beside it can be seen.
- Admire Sansovino's Loggetta at the baseGo to the foot of the tower and look at Jacopo Sansovino's Renaissance Loggetta that rests against its base.
Near St Mark's Campanile
Frequently asked questions
How much time do you need for St Mark's Campanile?
Allow about 30 min for the visit.