• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
the roman guy Italy travel blog

The Roman Guythe roman guy Italy travel blog

Italy Travel Experts Tours and Vacations

  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Rome
    • Vatican City
    • Paris
    • Florence
    • Venice
    • Pompeii & Amalfi Coast
    • Barcelona
    • Amsterdam
    • London
    • New York
  • Sign In
  • Guided Tours
Home > > How to Climb St. Mark’s Bell Tower in Venice
St. Mark's Venice Bell Tower

How to Climb St. Mark’s Bell Tower in Venice

TheRomanGuy Last Updated: August 6, 2020

0

One of Venice’s iconic structures, the Campanile is open for the public to explore.

Check out how to climb the St. Mark’s Bell Tower in this guide.


How much is there to see in Venice?    

It can be challenging even for the seasoned traveller to figure out what tours to do, if any, while enjoying Venice. This is why we created The Best Venice Tours to take and Why, which should help clarify that for you.

If you’re visiting Venice, then you’re most definitely thinking about visiting the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica. Check out our Venice Tours for some inspiration. But how about climbing 323 feet up St. Mark’s Bell Tower?

St. Mark’s Bell Tower History

Located in St. Mark’s Square, you’ll find the St. Mark’s Bell Tower, also known as the Campanile. Originally built in the 9th Century on Roman foundations, the bell tower was restored many times due to fires caused by lightning, but collapsed in 1902.

It was decided that the bell tower had to be reconstructed exactly as it was, and in 1912, it was finally inaugurated on St. Mark’s Day.

The Tower’s Architecture

St. Mark's Venice Bell Tower

St. Mark’s Bell Tower is made out of brick. The belfry holds the bells and on top, you can see the symbol of St. Mark, the winged lion, as well as la Giustizia or Justice which represents Venice.

The top of the tower has a pyramidal structure that holds a golden wind vane in the form of Archangel Gabriel. It is said that St. Mark’s Bell Tower was used as a watchtower.

What Were the Bells Used For?

There are five bells on the St. Mark’s Bell Tower and each one was rung for different reasons back in its day. The main and biggest bell was the Marangona. This bell announced the beginning and end of the working day.

The Trottiera is said to have announced council meetings in Doge’s Palace for the members of the Maggior Consiglio. Then the Mezza Terza signaled for Senate meetings and the Nona sounded at midday. Finally, the smallest bell, the Renghiera, also known as the Maleficio announced executions.

Climb St. Mark’s Bell Tower

St. Mark's Venice Bell Tower

Once you go up, the view from St. Mark’s Bell Tower is one of the most impressive panoramic views of Venice. The Campanile was also used in 1609 by Galileo to demonstrate his telescope to the Doge.

You’ll see a plaque to commemorate this event once you go up the tower.

If you’re on the search for cool panoramic views of Venice, we also recommend visiting the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore.

Located on a small island across St. Mark’s Square, this Campanile has the best view of the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Bell Tower. Besides, the 63-meter high tower is less crowded.

St. Mark’s Bell Tower Tickets

If you are planning on going up the tower after visiting St. Mark’s Basilica, we advise buying the tickets beforehand. You can do so by booking online from the official website, where you’ll be able to buy skip the line tickets for €13.00.

The service to buy online tickets is available from 1 April to 2 November. You can also buy regular access tickets for €8.00, which can only be purchased on the spot.

St. Mark’s Bell Tower Hours

October 1 – October 27: 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (last admission 5:45 p.m.)

October 28 – March 31: 9:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. (last admission 4:30 p.m.)

January 7 – 20: closure for maintenance work

April 1 – April 15: 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (last admission 4:45 p.m.)

April 16 – September 30: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (last admission 8:45 p.m.)

Make sure to double-check the opening times on the official website due to changes on holidays. Also, take into account that the Bell Tower may close due to weather conditions.


I Want More Italy!

  • Check out our YouTube video and step-by-step guide about how to do Venice in a Day. If you’d rather let us guide you, check out our Venice tours.
  • Follow our adventures in Italy on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Then, comment and tell us what you want us to cover next.
0

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

venice best view the tour guy

Want a great experience in Venice?

See our latest deals on Venice tours!

why the tour guy

Why The Roman Guy?

check mark

Top Rated Tour Company in Europe

check mark

Thousands of 5 star Customer Reviews

check mark

Providing Tours for 10+ Years

check mark

Best Access to the Monuments You Want to See

check mark

More Departure Times Each Day

See Venice Tours

Related Posts

  • Ultimate Guide to St. Mark's Basilica in Venice: Look no further!Ultimate Guide to St. Mark's Basilica in Venice:…
  • How to Take a St. Mark's Basilica Tour in Venice at NightHow to Take a St. Mark's Basilica Tour in Venice at Night
  • How to Climb St. Peter's DomeHow to Climb St. Peter's Dome
  • How to Climb the Florence Duomo?How to Climb the Florence Duomo?

Footer

COMPANY

  • About Us
  • Travel Blog
  • Trip Planning
  • In The Press
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Travel Agents
  • Careers

POLICY & TERMS

  • Cancellation Policy
  • Travel Insurance
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

CONTACT US

  • USA or Canada: +1 888 290 5595
  • Italy: +39 06 9480 4747
  • UK: +44 800 808 5370
  • Australia: +61 1300 113 254
  • France: +33 1 70700 898
  • Email: [email protected]

FIND US ON

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

WE ACCEPT

accept all major credit cards
secured payment

Copyright © 2021 The Roman Guy. All rights reserved.