St. Mark’s Campanile - The Famous Belltower of Venice

by Jill Kammer

You haven’t truly seen Venice until you see the bell tower (the Campanile) of the Basilica di San Marco and St Mark’s Square. This is the structure around which the rest of Venice revolves. It is also considered the symbol of the soul of Venice.

Although next to a cathedral, the bell tower is free-standing. It’s plain but elegant next to the overdone gaudiness of the cathedral. It towers almost 100 meters high (323 feet) and has a base of 39 square feet. It has to be that big and sturdy to house the five bells. Atop the spire is a weather vane in the shape of the Archangel Gabriel.

What exists today is actually a replica of a replica. The second St. Mark’s Campanile (the first to take on its familiar shape) collapsed for no known reason in 1902 after 500 years of faithful service and was rebuilt in 1912.

Before its sudden and inexplicable collapse, St Mark’s Campanile had been built in the 9th century. After an earthquake in the 1500’s, it became irreparably damaged and needed rebuilding. Famous visitors to the second incarnation of the bell tower include Galileo and Goethe.

Venetians appreciate the many services the unique bell tower has performed for the city. Not only do the bells help save their souls, but they also have served to warn of incoming armies. Because it was the biggest structure in Venice for many centuries, they military used it for defensive purposes, while tourists and artists have used it to “see forever”.

The bells have their own nicknames and jobs in their bell tower. One bell - Nona - only rings at the hour of nine. Another bell, the largest, nicknamed “the carpenter”, rings to begin and end the average work day. Another dreaded bell tolls the death of a prisoner. Yet another is reserved to remind Venice’s politicians to attend the Doge’s Palace.

The Campanile looks less gaudy than many of the buildings surrounding St Mark’s square, but is still a breath-taking sight. The top of the tower’s bricks are covered in gold leaf in order to reflect the sun and transform the bell tower into a lighthouse. If your eyes are good enough, you can see designs in bas relief of lions and a goddess-like woman nicknamed “Justice”, the embodiment of Venice herself.

Tourists love riding the elevator to the attic to see the bells and the incredible view of the square, and of Venice herself. The attic and belfrey also has intricate marble works that you can’t see from the ground.

About the Author:

Rent a Venice Apartment from Venice-Accom.com - the specialists in short-term vacation Apartment rentals across Italy.