St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice (photo). Campanile Bell Tower Architecture of the Bell Tower of San Marco

“He who does not have a heart beating in St. Mark’s Square does not have one at all.”
Unknown traveler of the 19th century

The political and religious center of Venice is St. Mark's Square. The square includes the area from the Grand Canal to the bell tower (Piazzetta) and the vast square itself (Piazza). Here is the Cathedral of St. Mark (9th - 15th centuries), the bell tower (1514), the Doge's Palace (14th - 15th centuries) and the National Library of San Marco (16th century).

Campanile (bell tower) of St. Mark's Basilica up to 100 meters high, it was built in its current form in 1514 and rebuilt several times. In 1902, as a result of an earthquake, lightning strike and disrepair, it collapsed, but was rebuilt in the same place in the same form by 1912. Here, the most famous scientist of his time in Europe, Italian physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei, installed his first telescope to observe celestial bodies.

The bell tower served as a watchtower and a beacon for ships entering the lagoon. In the Middle Ages, a torture cell was located in the tower's sturdy brick shaft. The ringing of five bells determined the rhythm of life in the city and called people not only to church services. The largest bell announced the upcoming meeting of the Great Council, and in the morning it called people to work. At the sound of another bell, the members of the Great Council should have already rushed to the Doge's Palace. The Nona bell marked noon, and the Mezza Terza announced the meeting of the Senate. The smallest bell announced the upcoming execution.

From the top of the tower, in good weather, you can see the spurs of the Alps.

In the square itself (Piazza) there are the Old and New Procurations, intended for the residential apartments of the procurators of San Marco. Between them, by order of the French emperor, a new wing was built (the Ala Napoleonica ballroom).


Photo from the book "Venice". Series "Golden Book". Venice, 2013.

St. Mark's Clock Tower(15th century) is an architectural monument of the Early Renaissance. At the top of the tower, two bronze men in sheep's clothing ring a bell. The difference in their ages (old and young) shows the fluidity of time.
Below, on a blue background with gold stars, is the main symbol of the Venetian Republic, the “Winged Lion” with an open book. The clock shows the seasons of the year, time, phases of the Moon and the movement of the Sun from one constellation to another.

The monumental arch leads to the main (shopping) street Merceria and further to the commercial and financial center on the Grand Canal at the Rialto Bridge.

Gothic Doge's Palace(1309 - 1424) was the residence of the head of the Venetian Republic. The Grand Council, the Senate and the Supreme Court met in the palace. Here the secret police fought the enemies of the republic and corrupt officials. They were effectively drowned in the lagoon or hanged, often before they carried out their insidious plans. During the celebrations, the Doge appeared to the people who had sailed on gondolas from a balcony facing the Grand Canal. The Doge's Palace housed the Grand Council Hall, the offices of the Secret Chancellery and the torture chamber.

On the left in the photo is the largest Venice National Library of St. Mark's. It contains about 13 thousand manuscripts, over 28 thousand first printed and other ancient books of the 16th century.

In the square (piazzetta) rise St. Mark's Columns And Saint Theodore. In 1099, Venice received monolithic granite columns (possibly from Syria) for military assistance to Constantinople, which were installed in the main square about a century later. The place between the columns was used for special occasions of the triumph of justice - for capital punishments. The condemned were placed facing the Clock Tower so that they could see the clock chime the last minutes of their lives. Local residents still prefer not to walk between the columns. Not all tourists know about this.

A bronze statue of the “Winged Lion” was installed on the eastern column. To this day, debate continues about the origin of the “lion” from Persia, China, Byzantium, Assyria or Venice itself.

Napoleon Bonaparte, who put an end to the existence of the thousand-year-old Venetian Republic, considered it his sacred duty to remove the symbol of the power of Venice from the column and send the “Lion of St. Mark” to Paris, where it was installed in front of the Invalides. This seemed excessive to European leaders and, by decision of the Vienna Congress, “Lion” again went to Venice, but on the way the sculpture crashed. Already on site it was somehow glued and installed. In 1985, a major restoration of the “Lion” was carried out. The age of the sculpture weighing 2.8 tons was determined to be 2500 years. This suggested that the sculpture was cast in the 5th century BC in the Assyrian city of Tarsus. From where in the 11th or 12th centuries. The crusaders (“liberators of the Holy Sepulcher”) brought this trophy to Venice.

On the western column there is a copy of the sculpture of St. Theodore(the original is kept in the Doge's Palace). Before the construction of St. Mark's Cathedral, where the relics of the Saint were brought from Alexandria, St. Theodore was considered the main symbol of Venice. The sculpture is considered to be combined - made up of the marble torso of a Roman commander of the 2nd century and the head of a sculpture of Mithridates of Pontus (king of the Bosporus). According to legend, the crocodile symbolizes the maritime power of Venice.

The famous Bridge of Sighs (17th century), connecting the Doge's Palace, where the court was located, with the city prison. Prisoners sentenced to death were escorted across the bridge.

The square is always crowded, even in late autumn

Piazza. On the left are the Old Procurations, on the right is St. Mark's Cathedral in restoration forests.

St. Mark's Cathedral was built in the Byzantine style and is decorated with numerous mosaics. It contains the relics of the Apostle Mark stolen in Alexandria and many valuable items looted during the Crusades, including from Constantinople. In 1987, the Cathedral, along with other Venetian monuments, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Campanile Bell Tower (Italy) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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The Campanile bell tower is located in Piazza San Marco. It is part of the world famous Venetian Basilica of St. Mark's. True, the Campanile bell tower can be considered as an independent attraction, and a very interesting one at that.

In 1902, the Campanile bell tower collapsed. Before that, it cracked, and the whole city was waiting for the tower to collapse. This is probably why no one was hurt.

The history of the Campanile bell tower dates back to the 8th century - then there was a clock tower on this site. In 1514 it acquired its modern appearance. The old building was destroyed due to a lightning strike. The new bell tower was built with the money of Admiral Grimani. The fact is that Grimani did a poor job with the naval operation entrusted to him and was afraid of arrest. That is why he decided to take such a step, providing personal funds for the needs of the city.

Bell tower of the Campanile

The Campanile was both a lighthouse for ships and a watchtower. The tower shaft was used in the Middle Ages to torture guilty citizens. It is known that church ministers convicted of homosexuality were hanged in special cages on the tower. The bell tower itself consisted of five bells, each of which had its own function. For example, the largest bell of Marañon rang early in the morning, thereby notifying people of the beginning of the working day.

In the 16th century, a spire with a weather vane in the form of a golden angel was installed on the Campanile bell tower.

Next to the Campanile bell tower, in the 16th century, according to the design of the architect Giacolo Sansovino, an open gallery, the so-called loggetta, was built. It performed an important function - the guards of the Doge's Palace were located here.

It is worth noting that many famous people admired the Campanile bell tower. It is interesting that Galileo demonstrated the world's first telescope precisely at the bell tower of San Marco, and the poet Goethe, having climbed to the observation deck of the Campanile, was amazed by the beauty of the sea.

In 1902, the Campanile bell tower collapsed. Before that, it cracked, and the whole city was waiting for the tower to collapse. This is probably why no one was hurt. The Venetians decided to restore the tower and loggetta. The work lasted for 9 years - in 1912 it was reopened.

Be sure to climb the Campanile bell tower - it offers a beautiful view of the whole of Venice.

Practical information

Opening hours: October-November - from 9:00 to 19:00, December-April - from 9:30 to 15:45, May-June - from 9:00 to 19:00, July-September - from 9:00 until 21:00.

Prices on the page are as of September 2018.

History of origin

The square is named in honor of the Apostle Mark thanks to the zeal of two Venetian merchants who, in 829, stole the relics of the Saint in Alexandria, secretly delivering them to Venice. The cunning people lined the sarcophagus with pork carcasses, so the Arabs, being Muslims, were unable to carefully examine the cargo. Returning home, the merchants placed the relics in the Basilica of St. Mark, which was specially built for this purpose. But as a result of a palace coup, the building was severely damaged by fire. In its place, in 1063, the construction of the Cathedral of San Marco began. The area in front of the building gradually expanded, reaching its current size. It hosted festive processions, carnivals, bullfights and even executions.

Piazza San Marco in the 18th century

Architectural landmarks

St. Mark's Square consists of two parts: Piazzetta and Piazza. The Piazzetta is the area from the Grand Canal to the bell tower, and the Piazza is the square itself in front of St. Mark's Basilica.

Sights of the Piazzetta:

Columns of St. Mark and Theodore. Getting off the vaporetto, two marble columns appear before the traveler’s gaze. One of them is crowned by a sculpture of St. Theodore, the former patron of the city, and the second by a sculpture of a winged lion, which is a symbol of St. Mark. These columns represent conventional gates, but not a single Venetian passes between them. Previously, commoners were executed here, and local residents often saw another hanged man hanging on a rope in the morning, so walking between the columns is considered a bad omen and bad manners.

Doge's Palace

Doge's Palace. Doge is the ruler of Venice. The Doges built their residence in the Gothic style, preserved in perfect condition to this day, between the 14th and 15th centuries according to the design of the architect Filippo Calendario. The rulers worked and lived in the palace. The Supreme Court operated here, the Senate and the Great Council met, and the balcony built above served as a platform from which the Doge made speeches, revealing himself to the people. In addition to administrative and legal institutions, the Doge's Palace housed a prison, from which Giacomo Casanova fearlessly escaped in 1756. On the second floor of the building there is a colonnade, where between the 9th and 10th columns the death sentence was carried out for the imprisoned nobles. These columns stand out sharply from the rest with their dirty pink color. According to legend, over time they changed color out of shame and grief.

Marks the end of the Piazzetta. This is the tallest building in Venice, from which the entire city is visible at a glance. Today, tourists are transported to a height of 96 meters by a high-speed elevator. The bell tower is made in the Early Renaissance style and previously served as a lighthouse for ships.

Sights of Piazza:

St. Mark's Cathedral. Piazza San Marco is surrounded on three sides by buildings, so at first glance it gives the impression of a huge matchbox. Here is the most amazing building in Venice - the cathedral. It began to be built in the 11th century and has been frequently reconstructed since then. The building is made in Venetian style. It contains the relics of the Evangelist Mark and many objects of art brought from Constantinople during the Crusades. Today St. Mark's Cathedral is a UNESCO property.

St. Mark's Cathedral

Opening hours and ticket prices

1. Cathedral of San Marco

During high season the basilica is open from 9.45 to 17.00. On Sundays and religious holidays from 14.00 to 17.00. Free admission.

The treasury receives visitors at the same time. The entrance ticket costs 3 euros.

The St. Mark's Museum is open from 9.45 to 16.45. Ticket price – 4 euros.

Pala d'Oro is open on weekdays from 9.45 to 17.00. And on weekends and holidays - from 14.00 to 17.00. The entrance ticket will cost 2 euros.

During the low season, the closing time of all establishments is an hour earlier.

2. Doge's Palace

From April to October, the Doge's Palace is open to visitors from 8.30 to 19.00. And from November to March, the attraction operates on a reduced schedule - from 8.30 to 17.30. The price of a combined ticket was 17 euros. It is also valid for entry to the Archaeological Museum, the Correr Museum and the National Library of San Marco.

Columns of the Doge's Palace

From July to September the bell tower is open from 9.00 to 21.00. In March, April, October - from 9.00 to 19.00. In November and Easter on a short schedule - from 9.30 to 15.45. The entrance ticket costs 8 euros.

Where to eat deliciously

After a busy excursion you will have worked up an appetite. But we do not recommend having lunch in one of the many cafes on St. Mark's Square. Just for a cup of coffee they charge 10 euros. And the bill for basic Venetian dishes such as Moleche, Risotto nero and Fegato alla veneziana can be 100 euros. Therefore, it is better to move away from the tourist center. After all, expensive does not always mean tasty. The establishments on the square are accustomed to a large influx of tourists and do not always cook conscientiously. It is not so important for restaurant owners whether customers like the food or not: in a day or two they will leave, and new ones will take their place. To eat tasty and economically, it is better to go to residential areas where there are inexpensive restaurants frequented by local residents. They are located in the Castello area on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, as well as in the Canareggio quarter along the Fondamenta della Misericordia and Fondamenta degli Ormesini.

We only spent about five hours. How to get the most out of the city in such a short time? One way is to climb somewhere higher and look at the city from above. A little later you will find a detailed article about Venice, and today we will look at the city from a bird's eye view, climbing the campanile (bell tower) of St. Mark's Cathedral, located in the very heart of the city.

At first we were scared by the large queue to the bell tower, however, it must be said that it moves quite quickly. We spent about 20-30 minutes getting inside. In season, in my opinion - not bad! Be sure to climb the bell tower! Especially if you came to Venice for a short time!

Information for travelers:

Address: Piazza San Marco, Venezia, Italy. Phone: +39 041 270 8311

Working hours:
October: Mon. — Sun: 9.00 — 19.00.
November - March/April (Easter time): Mon. - Sun: 9.30 - 15.45.
March/April (Easter time) - June: Mon. — Sun: 9.00 — 19.00.
July - September: Mon. — Sun: 9.00 — 21.00.

Ticket price: 8 euros (reduced ticket for 4 euros only for groups of more than 15 people).

How to get there:

The bell tower is located on. You can get there by water taxi "" along the Grand Canal.

From the train station - taxi No. 1 (many stops), No. 2 (express) and N (night route).

From the Tronchetto car park - taxi No. 1 and N (night route).

You can also get there from the parking lot by express boats (much faster and comparable in price).

Bell tower on the map:

Photos of Venice:

4.
Clock Tower and St. Mark's Square

Two views of the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute:

10.
City spiers

13.
On the left is the island of San Giorgio Maggiore and the cathedral of the same name with a bell tower

14.
Pier near St. Mark's Square

All about the observation deck of Venice - the Bell Tower of St. Mark. How to stand in a kilometer-long line and climb to the top. Is it worth buying tickets online?

Campanile San Marco (Italian) Campanile di San Marco) is located opposite the Basilica of St. Mark on the square of the same name. Unlike most attractions, this building is not original. It was built on the very spot where the suddenly collapsed bell tower stood until 1902. Its age at that time was almost 1,000 years. However, this fact does not particularly affect the popularity of one of the most visited Venetian monuments.

About the bell tower of San Marco they write that “this is the tallest building in Venice”- 99 meters. This is so, and it is impossible not to notice and ignore it. But what is much more interesting is that the Campanile of St. Mark is considered the highest in all. Can you imagine its scope? If you see a line at the entrance and you doubt whether it’s worth spending time on the observation deck, the answer is clear - it’s worth it. And perhaps more than once, especially if the first time you are unlucky with the weather.

Once upon a time, the bell tower served as a lighthouse and was a watchtower. Residents of Venice affectionately call their main symbol “Master of the House.” And tourists unanimously insist that such views are worth both the time and money spent.

Excursions in Venice

The most interesting excursions are routes from local residents to Tripster. It’s interesting to start with (walk through iconic places, outline routes for future walks). Then visit the Venetian trio. The program is designed for 4.5 hours, it is proposed to visit glassblowers in Murano and lacemakers in Burano, and relax in Torcello.

Opening hours of Campanile San Marco

At the entrance to the bell tower, tourists line up in a long line from the very morning. The Campanile San Marco is open to everyone every day at the following hours:

• from April 1 to April 15 - from 9 am to 5-30 pm;
• from April 16 to September 30 - from 8-30 am to 9-00 pm;
• from October 1 to October 27 - from 9-30 am to 6 pm;
• from October 28 to March 31 - from 9-30 am to 4-45 pm.

It's better to arrive at least half an hour before closing. Otherwise, not only will you not have time to admire Venice from above, but you will simply not be allowed to enter the elevator.

It is important to know that the queues (especially during the season - from May to September) are really wild there. Sometimes you have to stand in the heat for two hours - 10-15 minutes can be considered lucky. Therefore, for those who do not have (a very comfortable way to get to the Bell Tower of San Marco, although it is twice as expensive), it is better to go during non-peak hours. That is, ideally early in the morning, at lunchtime or closer to closing. Then there is a chance not to spend half a day on the observation deck.

Cost of tickets to the bell tower

Tickets at the Campanile box office cost € 8 for adults, € 6 for children, € 4 for groups of 15 participants or more. The price includes an elevator ride and a stay at the San Marco observation deck for 30 minutes. Descent is also possible by elevator.

A priority ticket costs €17/person. In the off-season, of course, there is no point in paying twice as much. Unless it’s important for you to feel like a VIP client. But from May to September it’s very convenient to enter without a queue! The main thing to remember is that the “priority” door is located to the right of the main entrance, on the side of Piazza San Marco (not the Piazzetta).

Descent with a skip-the-line ticket is only possible by elevator - walking down the stairs is prohibited. Plus, these tickets booked online are non-refundable.

Historical information about the Campanile

The bell tower is located opposite St. Mark's Cathedral

The construction of the campanile began in the 9th century, when the first watchtower was built, which served as a signal beacon for ships. In the 12th century, the bell tower was rebuilt and made similar to the Aquileia Tower. At the end of the 15th century, the bell tower of San Marco was destroyed by a lightning strike. And at the beginning of the 16th century it suffered again, but from an earthquake. The Campanile was restored, but with alterations - a new marble belfry appeared, over which grew an attic with a lion and a female figure - the symbol of Venice. And also a bronze roof with a spire and a gilded figure of the Archangel Gabriel. At the end of the 16th century, a logget was added to the bell tower.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a crack appeared in the wall of the bell tower, which grew larger every day. As a result, the Campanile collapsed so quickly and accurately that it did not even hit the neighboring buildings or anyone around. 10 years after the destruction, the bell tower of St. Mark was completely restored in the same place.

Architecture of the Bell Tower of San Marco

The construction of the bell tower is made in the shape of a square with a side length of 12 meters. The 50-meter walls of the tower are complemented by vertical and horizontal grooves. The attic erected above the belfry is decorated with figures of winged lions and female images personifying Venice and Justice. The roof of the bell tower is crowned with a weather vane with a 2-meter-high statue of the Archangel Gabriel. At the base of the tower there is a logette restored in parts. The loggia with arches and columns houses unique statues of Mercury, Minerva, Myra and Apollo.

The architecture of the Campanile is simple, but it managed to decorate Venice!

Piazza San Marco from the observation deck

The entire building of the restored bell tower is made of brick and equipped with a lightning rod. The belfry consists of five bells, each of which performs its own function. For example, the sound of a large bell signaled the beginning of the working day. The winged archangel Gabriel has been looking at the residents and guests of the city from his eternal post for more than 100 years. Galileo and Goethe were amazed by the bell tower in their time.

The Campanile of San Marco serves as an excellent observation deck, and the stunning panorama that opens from there over the entire “city on the water” will be remembered for a long time.

The address of the Campanile San Marco is extremely simple: Piazza San Marco, 30124 Venezia. You won't find a more central place!