St. Mark's Campanile: Skip The Line Entrance Ticket
See the most stunning views of the city from the tallest vantage point in Venice
- St. Mark's Bell Tower: Skip The Line Entry Ticket
- Downloadable audio guide app with commentary about the city of Venice
St Mark’s Bell Tower Campanile - Tickets and Information
- St Mark’s Bell Tower Address: P.za San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
- Opening Hours: Daily: 09:30 - 21:15
Is St. Mark’s Bell Tower Campanile Worth Visiting
- If you like incredible views and historic buildings, definitely, yes! It’s also one of the most popular attractions in Venice so come and see why!
What You See At St. Mark’s Bell Tower Campanile
- Great views of the city.
- The tallest vantage point in the city.
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About St Mark's Bell Tower, Campanile di San Marco.
St Mark's Bell Tower or St Mark's Campanile stands at around 99-metres tall in St. Mark's Square, which makes it one of the tallest structures in Venice and offers incredible views of the city.
Originally constructed as a lighthouse in the 12th century, the Bell Tower was used to help guide passing ships as well as watchtower for security of the city. It was also used as the prototype for all campaniles on the lagoon and in the area. It was then later rebuilt to its current form in the 16th century after an earthquake caused significant damage to the original.
The bell tower has been struck by lightning multiple times due to its height and also the iron structure, so they added a lightning rod in 1776 to help protect it! There’s also a golden angel (Archangel Gabriel) that sits on the top which acts as a weathervane!
The campanile has 5 bells in the tower, with each serving a different purpose and different musical note. Only one of them is the original, which is the largest one, the 'Marangona'. The other 4, the 'Nona', 'Trottiera', 'Mezza Terza' & 'Maleficio', the originals were destroyed when the campanile collapsed in 1902 due to structural weakness. The bells were recast to replace the originals when the tower was rebuilt.
When the campanile collapsed, its said the the church was only saved due to the ‘proclamation stone’ (Pietra del Bando) near the corner of the church which braced and protected the church preventing a key corner and saved its full collapse and it was rebuilt between 1903 and 1912.
As the tower is the highest vantage point in Venice it offers great views of the area including the city, the lagoon and some of the canal network and in a clear day, you can potentially even see the Alps!
The 'Logetta', which is at the base of the campanile is also beautiful. Historically it was used as a meeting place, so it has intricate decor with carvings and statues and bas-reliefs which show scenes from the city's history.
Fun Fact: The difference between a 'Bell Tower' and a 'Campanile' - although similar (as Campanile is the Italian word for Bell Tower), a bell tower is a general tower for holding bells, whereas a campanile is usually a separate freestanding structure. Most church's have a bell tower, so generally integrated and not a campanile. Whereas St. Mark's Campanile is a separate free-standing tower, making it a bell tower and a campanile. So all campaniles are in fact bell towers but not all bell towers are in fact campaniles!
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St. Mark’s Bell Tower Campanile FAQ’s
- Can I buy St. Mark’s Bell Tower Campanile tickets in advance?
- Yes - we strongly recommend that you do buy tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. The Bell Tower is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Venice so tickets sell out quickly and long queues do form especially over the summer months.
- Can you go to the top of St. Mark’s Bell Tower Campanile?
- Yes - it’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in Venice. It offers incredible views of the city from one of the highest vantage points.
- Is St. Mark’s Bell Tower Campanile the original one?
- No, the original was destroyed. It’s been ruined several times due to weather and building issues and re-built.
- When was the original St. Mark’s Bell Tower Campanile built?
- The original one was built back in the 12th century, however it has been rebuilt several times since.
- How tall is St. Mark’s Bell Tower Campanile?
- The Bell Tower is just under 99 metres, 98.6, to be precise!
- What is St. Mark's Bell Tower in Venice?
- St. Mark's Bell Tower is the famous bell tower of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. It offers panoramic views of the city and lagoon and is one of the tallest points in the city. It’s a very popular tourist attraction!
- Where is St. Mark’s Bell Tower in Venice?
- The Bell Tower is in ‘Piazza San Marco’, which is the main square in Venice.
- Can you go inside St. Mark’s Bell Tower in Venice?
- Yes. You can purchase a ticket and can take an elevator to the top for an amazing view of Venice.
- What can you see from the top of St. Mark’s Bell Tower in Venice?
- From the top of the Bell Tower you can see landmarks like St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Venetian lagoon, and on clear days, even the Dolomite Mountains on a clear day.
- Is there an elevator in St. Mark’s Bell Tower in Venice or do you have to climb stairs?
- There is an elevator in St. Mark’s Bell Tower, yes, making it accessible to most visitors.
- Is St. Mark’s Bell Tower in Venice worth visiting at sunset?
- Absolutely! Sunset offers some of the most spectacular views of Venice and the surrounding lagoon.
St. Mark’s Bell Tower Fun Facts
- The Five Bells: The campanile’s original five bells each had a specific purpose in Venetian life: the Marangona (announced the beginning and end of the workday), the Nona (sounded at noon), the Trottiera (summoned members of the council), the Mezza Terza (for Senate meetings), and the Maleficio (rang for executions)! Only one remains though.
- Galileo's Telescope: In 1609, Galileo Galilei demonstrated his newly invented telescope to the Doge of Venice from the top of the bell tower, marking a significant moment in the history of astronomy.
- The Loggetta: At the base of the tower is the Loggetta, a small, elegant building designed by Jacopo Sansovino in the 16th century. It served as a meeting place for the Venetian nobility and the city’s guards.
- Lightning Strikes: Due to damage suffered, they had to install a lightning rod to protect it from further lightning strikes!
- Piazza San Marco: The tower is located in the iconic Piazza San Marco, Venice's most famous square, and stands adjacent to St. Mark's Basilica, adding to the grandeur and historical significance of the area.
- Nickname "El Paron de Casa": Venetians fondly call the bell tower El Paron de Casa, which means "The Master of the House," as it watches over the city and the lagoon.
- Oldest Landmark: The bell tower’s origins trace back to the 9th century, making it one of Venice’s oldest landmarks!
- Collapsed in 1902: The original tower collapsed suddenly on July 14, 1902, but no one was hurt except for a cat.
- Rebuilt to Perfection: The current tower, rebuilt in 1912, is an exact replica of the original.
- Golden Angel: The statue of the Archangel Gabriel atop the tower serves as a weather vane.
- Military Use: It was used as a watchtower to spot incoming ships and guard Venice.
- Film Fame: The bell tower has appeared in various movies, including James Bond’s “Moonraker.”
- Longest Shadow: The tower casts one of the longest shadows in Venice.
Useful Information About St. Mark’s Bell Tower Campanile
Tips for Visiting
- Book Tickets Online: Its an easy and conveninet way to secure your tickets and can also save you a lot of time as the Bell Tower is one of the most popular attractions in Venice, so gets very busy.
- Combination Tickets: Consider one of our great combination tickets that give you access to more than one attraction. Our St Mark's Square Pass, for example gives access to the Bell Tower, Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. Click HERE for combination ticket options.
- Things to do in Venice: See our full range of things to do in Venice by CLICKING HERE!
How to get there
- St Mark’s Bell Tower Address: Basilica di San Marco, 328, 30124 Venice
- Contact Tel: +39 041 2708311
Opening Times
- Monday: 09:30 AM – 21:15 PM
- Tuesday: 09:30 AM – 21:15 PM
- Wednesday: 09:30 AM – 21:15 PM
- Thursday: 09:30 AM – 21:15 PM
- Friday: 09:30 AM – 21:15 PM
- Saturday: 09:30 AM – 21:15 PM
- Sunday: 09:30 AM – 21:15 PM
- Please note last admission is at 20:45 each day
Please note
- Please note should adverse weather conditions apply including fog, strong winds, or extremely cold, the Bell Tower will be closed.
- Please note you can freely enter the Basilica for prayers, mass & services, from the Porta dei Fiori (Piazzetta dei Leoncini – North Side).
- Please note visitors are asked to remember and respect that St Mark’s Basilica is a sacred and religious building and are kindly asked to wear appropriate clothes and behave appropriately.
- Please note you are not allowed to enter St Mark’s Basilica with luggage. There is a luggage store available in Piazzetta dei Leoncini, which is located near the Basilica.
