The Campanile. Venice's landmark, visible from afar
Although it bears not the slightest architectural resemblance to St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, it is nonetheless its bell tower. Everyone looks up at it here. And everyone wants to go up there, too. Because from the top, the view of Venice and the entire lagoon is breathtaking, one-of-a-kind, and an unforgettable experience.
Wikipedia defines the word „campanile„ as follows: “A campanile (derived from the Italian word *campana*, meaning ‘bell’), also spelled ‘kampanile,’ is a structure built next to a church building but not structurally connected to it.” free-standing bell tower. “In Italy, the freestanding church tower is relatively common.".
Campanile: The View
An elevator takes you up to the observation deck in just a few seconds. Pictured: The view from the Campanile looking north toward the lagoon, Murano, Marco Polo Airport, and the snow-capped Alps. Not uncommon in winter. Of course, the view to the south—toward the Lido and the Mediterranean Sea—is just as fantastic. You’ll never forget it.
Venice Campanile Admission
In total, there are three very special tourist attractions around St. Mark’s Square that every visitor to Venice naturally wants to see from the inside: St. Mark’s Basilica, the Campanile, and the Doge’s Palace. The crowds are correspondingly large, so strict access regulations are necessary here. And since the bell tower belongs to St. Mark’s Basilica, and since St. Mark’s Basilica belongs to the Patriarchate of Venice, the same rules apply here as for St. Mark’s Basilica: You must select a date and time online in advance for when you want to visit the Campanile. You must be on site during the 30-minute time slot you select online. There is NO LONGER a ticket office at the tower entrance. And there are no lines either.
The QR code for admission to the Campanile
Scroll down this page until "Bell Tower" appears.
Click the button: Buy tickets >
First, you must select a date and then a time in 30-minute intervals. The price for the ride is 15.00 euros. Children up to 9.9 years old ride for free. (Bring your ID!)
Summer hours: 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Important Note: „None of the tickets are refundable. Once a reservation is completed, it cannot be modified.“ (You CANNOT cancel or change a confirmed and paid reservation.).
Campanile: Hearing Instead of Seeing
The Campanile is the bell tower of St. Mark's Basilica. It is the tallest building in Venice and therefore once served as a lighthouse for sailors.
At the top of the tower stands the gilded Archangel Gabriel. He is God's messenger and reveals His visions to us, and he serves as a weather vane.
Our tip: Listen for the bells ringing. Usually, the small bell begins first with its bright sound. One by one, the larger bells with their deeper tones join in. Also note that either the smallest bell or the largest bell brings the ringing to a close.
In the past, executions were also announced this way.
The largest bell, the Marangona, survived the collapse of the tower on July 14, 1902. The other bells were recast.
All the bells together (in unison) ring on Saturdays and on the eve of a holiday at 6:30 p.m. The Marangona rings at midnight and on special occasions.
This is the view you'll see from the Campanile
