Cindy’s Other Blog

You don’t have to be Christian to appreciate the beauty of the free standing bell tower next to the Basilica di San Marco. Usually known as St Mark’s Campanile, this impressive protector of Venice has become one of the venerable city’s most-loved symbols.

The bell tower is one of the most prominent features of the Venetian skyline. It’s hard not to miss, at 323 feet (100 meters) tall. Made of simple and elegant brick, it stands alone in St Mark’s Square, housing five bells. Looking way up, you see a golden weather vane of the Archangel Gabriel standing on top of a pyramid-shaped spire.

Not many of Venice’s original structures remain. The current St. Mark’s Campanile is a perfect replica of the one which collapsed in 1902. It had stood for over 500 years. The current incarnation - its third - was built 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.

Because the bell tower was so large, it gave a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. This saw it being used by the military as well as the clergy. Venetians listened for the bells not only to remind them of church, but to be warned that danger was coming and you had to get ready for battle.

Each of the five bells has different jobs. The largest is to announce the beginning and ending of a usual work day. A second acts like a clock bell, gonging the hour. One is reserved to call the Venetian Senators to the Doge’s Palace. Another is for when prisoners are executed.

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.

This latest incarnation of St. Mark’s Campanile includes an elevator in order to get to the top. The attic is large enough to walk around in and get magnificent views of the city. Inside the belfry is beautiful marble that you can’t see from the ground.