{"id":996,"date":"2021-03-11T08:52:57","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T08:52:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.veneziadaesplorare.com\/?p=996"},"modified":"2026-01-18T17:46:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T17:46:07","slug":"st-marks-campanile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/campanile-san-marco\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Mark\u2019s Bell Tower \u2013 Italy\u2019s 4th tallest tower"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">The <strong>St. Mark\u2019s Bell Tower<\/strong>, standing <strong>98.6 meters (323 ft)<\/strong> tall, is one of the most iconic symbols of Venice and among the most famous bell towers in the world. Also known by Venetians as <strong>\u201cel par\u00f2n de casa\u201d<\/strong> (\u201cthe master of the house\u201d), it rises in <strong>St. Mark\u2019s Square<\/strong>, directly opposite <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/saint-mark-basilica\/\" title=\"St. Mark&apos;s Basilica\">St. Mark\u2019s Basilica<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"vde-cta\"><a class=\"vde-cta__media\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/venice-l35\/venice-st-mark-s-basilica-with-audio-and-campanile-options-t776596\/?partner_id=1R2AFAN&amp;utm_medium=online_publisher&amp;mkt_cmp=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener noreferrer\" data-cta=\"tour\" data-cta-location=\"in-article\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/campanile-san-marco.jpg\" alt=\"St. Mark\u2019s Basilica Entry + Bell Tower Option\"><\/a><div class=\"vde-cta__body\"><span class=\"vde-cta__badge\">Free cancellation<\/span><h4 class=\"vde-cta__title\">St. Mark\u2019s Basilica Entry + Bell Tower Option<\/h4><p class=\"vde-cta__text\">Skip-the-line entry to <strong>St. Mark\u2019s Basilica<\/strong> with audioguide included. Upgrade your visit with the <strong>Bell Tower option<\/strong> and enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view over the entire Venetian lagoon.<\/p><div class=\"vde-cta__footer\"><span class=\"vde-cta__price\">From <strong>\u20ac 30<\/strong> per person<\/span><a class=\"vde-cta__btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/venice-l35\/venice-st-mark-s-basilica-with-audio-and-campanile-options-t776596\/?partner_id=1R2AFAN&amp;utm_medium=online_publisher&amp;mkt_cmp=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener noreferrer\" data-cta=\"tour\" data-cta-location=\"in-article\">Check Availability \u2192<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">In this guide, we\u2019ll explore the <strong>St. Mark\u2019s Bell Tower<\/strong> together, uncovering its history, unique features, and the many curiosities that bind Venetians so closely to this imposing structure. Did you know, for example, that the current tower was rebuilt only at the beginning of the 20th century?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The turbulent history of St. Mark\u2019s Bell Tower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From watchtower to bell tower \u2013 the early centuries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">The year is <strong>912<\/strong>\u2014well before the year 1000\u2014and Venetians plan a new watchtower to flank the pre-existing buildings of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/doge-palace-venice\/\" title=\"Doge&apos;s Palace\">Doge\u2019s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)<\/a><\/strong>. Over time, this first structure\u2014of which very little is known\u2014underwent multiple restorations, often due to lightning strikes or fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">La statua sulla vetta<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Proprio alla fine del 1400 un fulmine danneggi\u00f2 la cella campanaria e con i restauri che ne conseguirono venne aggiunta anche la <strong>statua in legno e rivestita in rame dell&#8217;arcangelo Gabriele<\/strong> che, attraverso una piattaforma girevole, serve ad indicare la direzione del vento. La statua venne poi sostituita nella met\u00e0 del 1800 da un&#8217;opera simile realizzata da Luigi Zandomeneghi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The statue on the summit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">At the end of the 15th century, lightning struck and damaged the belfry. During the subsequent restorations, a <strong>wooden statue clad in copper depicting the Archangel Gabriel<\/strong> was added. Mounted on a rotating platform, it served as a weather vane indicating wind direction. In the mid-19th century, the statue was replaced with a similar one created by <strong>Luigi Zandomeneghi<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"409\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/loggetta-sansovino-venezia.jpg\" alt=\"Sansovino Loggetta Tower Bell\" class=\"wp-image-1117\" title=\"Sansovino Loggetta Tower Bell\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/loggetta-sansovino-venezia.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/loggetta-sansovino-venezia-300x175.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Sansovino Loggetta at the base of St. Mark\u2019s Bell Tower \u2013 Venice<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fa\u00e7ade features three arches separated by niches containing bronze statues of classical deities: <strong>Minerva, Mercury, Apollo<\/strong>, and the statue of <strong>Peace<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The bell tower collapses!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As early as the mid-1700s, after a lightning strike destroyed part of the tower and caused the death of three people, concerns arose about the tower\u2019s structural integrity. Despite its massive weight, the bell tower was weak, and materials were clearly deteriorating\u2014yet no decisive action was taken for another 150 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">Although a commission declared the structure stable in the late 1800s, on <strong>July 7, 1902<\/strong>, during minor restoration works on the Sansovino Loggetta, a dangerous crack appeared along the brickwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"172\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/campanile-venezia-crollo-1.jpg\" alt=\"St. Mark Campanile Venice\" class=\"wp-image-1120\" title=\"St. Mark Campanile Venice\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Two days later, the crack continued to widen, and technicians realized the internal material was crumbling even under light pressure. Cracking sounds could be heard as material began to fall from the walls. After three days, the fissure ran along the entire fa\u00e7ade and was visible to everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The technicians underestimated the severity of the issue, believing it was caused by minor settling from previous works and posed no risk of collapse. As a precaution, public access was restricted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">On <strong>July 13, 1902, at 9:47 a.m.<\/strong>, the crack suddenly gave way, and the <strong>St. Mark\u2019s Bell Tower collapsed<\/strong>, leaving behind a <strong>20-meter-high mound of rubble<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"210\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/campanile-san-marco-distrutto.jpg\" alt=\"Saint Mark&#039;s Tower Bell\" class=\"wp-image-1121\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/campanile-san-marco-distrutto.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/campanile-san-marco-distrutto-300x90.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Basilica was not damaged, but the Sansovino Loggetta was completely destroyed. Only the corner and the main bell emerged from the debris\u2014we\u2019ll return shortly to the bells of the tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">The clearing of the rubble took over six months. At the start of reconstruction, the Mayor of Venice famously declared: <strong>\u201cwhere it was and how it was\u201d<\/strong>. After ten years\u2014amid controversies, discoveries by workers, and heated debates\u2014the new bell tower was inaugurated in <strong>St. Mark\u2019s Square<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Today\u2019s challenges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">Today, the bell tower is under constant monitoring. According to data from the <strong>Venice New Consortium<\/strong>, the structure is no longer perfectly vertical due to uneven subsidence between the historic foundations and those expanded in the early 20th century. For this reason, modern reinforcement systems\u2014such as titanium rods\u2014are used to ensure structural stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The five bells of the tower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">It\u2019s unclear exactly when the bells were first installed on what was originally only a watchtower, but records confirm they were already in place by the <strong>13th century<\/strong>. Today, they can be heard ringing together only on very rare liturgical occasions, such as the feast of the patron saint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Did you know?<\/strong> Until 1722, there was a sixth bell, which collapsed and shattered and was never replaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1489, a violent lightning strike caused the bells to fall onto the platform below without damage. They were instead destroyed during the 1902 collapse, except for the <strong>Marangona<\/strong>, which miraculously survived. To cast the new bells, eight tons of bronze were melted using an old decommissioned furnace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\" translation-block\"><strong>Marangona<\/strong> \u2013 sounds the note A. The term \u201cMarang\u00f2n\u201d means \u201cworker,\u201d as this bell marked the beginning and end of the workday. Diameter: 1.8 m. Weight: over 3,500 kg.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\" translation-block\"><strong>Nona<\/strong> \u2013 sounds the note B. Traditionally rung at noon. Diameter: approx. 1.5 m. Weight: over 2,500 kg.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\" translation-block\"><strong>Trotti\u00e8ra<\/strong> \u2013 sounds the note C. When it rang, Venetian nobles had to hurry to the Doge\u2019s Palace. Diameter: nearly 1.4 m. Weight: 1,800 kg.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\" translation-block\"><strong>Pregadi (or Mezza Terza)<\/strong> \u2013 sounds the note D. Announced Senate meetings. Diameter: approx. 1.3 m. Weight: about 1,400 kg.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\" translation-block\"><strong>Renghiera (or Maleficio)<\/strong> \u2013 sounds the note E. From \u201crenga\u201d (harangue); it announced executions. Diameter: approx. 1.1 m. Weight: about 1,000 kg.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"440\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/vista-campanile-san-marco.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/vista-campanile-san-marco.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/vista-campanile-san-marco-300x189.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The view from the top of St. Mark\u2019s Bell Tower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph translation-block\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.313), 18px);px\"><strong>Did you know\u2026?<\/strong>\n<br>\nJews confined in the <strong>Venetian Ghetto<\/strong> were only allowed to leave the gates that locked them in at night after the sound of the <strong>Marangona<\/strong> bell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A visit to <strong>St. Mark\u2019s Bell Tower<\/strong> is absolutely unmissable if you want to experience Venice from a truly unique vantage point. Nearly 100 meters tall, it is the fourth tallest tower in Italy and offers an extraordinary panoramic view over the lagoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph translation-block\">On clear days, looking north, you can even spot the <strong>Dolomites<\/strong>, the mountains that once supplied timber for the Venetian fleet. You can also clearly see the <strong>Venetian islands (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/murano-island\/\" title=\"Murano Island\">Murano<\/a>, Burano, Torcello)<\/strong> and the unique ecological system of the <strong>Barene<\/strong> (salt marshes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Visit St. Mark\u2019s Bell Tower now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Per visitare lo straordinario fascino della Cattedrale e avventurarti nelle segrete del Palazzo Ducale e delle sue terribili sale delle torture, prenota subito il tour. Puoi pagare direttamente on line e salti le lunghe code all&#8217;ingresso!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-c41db87e wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color no-border-radius wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/venice-l35\/venice-st-mark-s-basilica-with-audio-and-campanile-options-t776596\/?partner_id=1R2AFAN&amp;utm_medium=online_publisher&amp;mkt_cmp=true\" style=\"color:#00aef0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Book Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Opening hours and ticket prices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>St. Mark\u2019s Bell Tower<\/strong> is open daily from <strong>9:45 AM to 6:00 PM<\/strong>.\nTicket price: <strong>\u20ac8<\/strong> (reduced: <strong>\u20ac4<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a name=\"mappa\"><\/a>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where it is located<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vde-map\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2799.7748575760193!2d12.33684441576606!3d45.43403964347608!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x477eb1d0b292ddb7%3A0xae46e40a9d543df4!2sCampanile%20di%20San%20Marco!5e0!3m2!1sit!2sit!4v1615452296216!5m2!1sit!2sit\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<a name=\"orari\"><\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dalla balaustra dell&#8217;altissimo Campanile di San Marco si scorgono in lontananza le isole della Serenissima e le immacolate vette delle Dolomiti.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1165,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attrazioni-venezia"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=996"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/996\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5541,"href":"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/996\/revisions\/5541"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veneziadaesplorare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}