St Mark's Basilica
Venice, Italy
St Mark's Campanile, Venice
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Photo: TeKappa, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Paid, by lift
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Opening hours
- Morning to evening; longer in summer
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 30 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Height
- ≈ 98.6 m — Venice's tallest building
- Stairs
- None — lift only
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes on top, plus the queue
- Vaporetto
- San Marco, San Zaccaria
Key facts
≈ 98.6 mheight of the tower
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English Wikipedia1902the old tower collapsed; no one was hurt
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English Wikipedia1912rebuilt "where it was, as it was"
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English Wikipedia1609Galileo demonstrated his telescope here
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English Wikipedia5 bellsthe Marangona marked the start and end of the working day
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English WikipediaA short history
A bell tower has stood on the square since the 9th–12th centuries, serving also as a lighthouse for ships entering the lagoon. Rebuilt many times, it gained its pointed spire with a golden angel in the 16th century, and its bells ruled daily life — the great Marangona rang the start and end of the working day.
In 1902 the old tower suddenly collapsed — remarkably, no one was hurt. The city vowed to rebuild it "where it was, as it was" (com'era, dov'era), and in 1912 an exact copy on stronger foundations rose again, along with the Loggetta at its base.
The view from the top
A lift takes you to the open belfry, about 60 m up among the bells. All Venice spreads below: a maze of red-tiled roofs, St Mark's domes, the Doge's Palace, the Grand Canal, San Giorgio Maggiore, the Giudecca, the Lido and the lagoon islands. On clear days, especially in winter, the snowy Alps show to the north. Each side has its own panorama behind a barred balustrade — and the bells are very loud on the hour. Above the belfry, a green spire is crowned by a gilded weathervane of the Archangel Gabriel, turning with the wind and visible across the lagoon.
Galileo and the Loggetta
In 1609 Galileo Galilei climbed the Campanile with Venice's rulers to show off his telescope, which revealed ships at sea hours before the naked eye could — a big deal for a maritime republic. At the foot of the tower stands the Loggetta, Jacopo Sansovino's elegant 16th-century pavilion of marble and bronze, once a guardhouse during council sessions — worth a look while you queue.
What to see
- The rooftops — all Venice from above.
- The basilica and Doge's Palace — straight below.
- Lagoon and islands — San Giorgio, Giudecca, Lido.
- The Alps — to the north on clear days.
- The bells — five of them in the belfry.
- Sansovino's Loggetta — at the base.
How to get there
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- St Mark's Basilica is about 1 min away on foot.
- Caffè Florian is about 2 min away on foot.
- Piazza San Marco is about 2 min away on foot.
More tips
- Vaporetto 1 or 2 to San Marco (Giardinetti), 3 minutes.
- It stands on Piazza San Marco, opposite the basilica.
- From the Rialto Bridge, 10 minutes on foot.
- From Santa Lucia station, about 30 minutes on vaporetto 1 or 2.
Is the Campanile worth it?
Yes, to see Venice whole — only from up here do you grasp that the city stands on a hundred islets in a lagoon. The ascent is quick and accessible, with no stairs. Choose a clear day, ideally late afternoon, and pair it with the basilica and Doge's Palace on the same square.
Before you go
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You are ready for the visit
Views in Venice: compare and choose
Viewpoints in Venice rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| St Mark's Basilica | 57 | 1 h | Paid | 3 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge of Sighs | 57 | 15 min | Free | 3 min walk |
| Rialto Bridge | 56 | 20 min | Free | 9 min walk |
| Piazza San Marco | 55 | 30 min | Free | 3 min walk |
| Santa Maria della Salute | 51 | 30 min | Free | 9 min walk |
| Grand Canal | 49 | 1 h | Free | 23 min walk |
| St Mark's Campanileyou are here | 47 | 30 min | Paid | — |
| Accademia Bridge | 44 | 15 min | Free | 14 min walk |
| San Giorgio Maggiore | 43 | 1 h | Free | 14 min walk |
| Burano | 34 | 3 h | Free | 8.4 km |
| Torcello | 30 | 2 h | Free | 9.5 km |
San Marco in half a day
The basilica, the Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs, the Campanile and a walk to the Rialto.
- St Mark's Basilica1 h · Paid
- 3 min walk from the previous stopDoge's Palace2 h · Paid
- 3 min walk from the previous stopBridge of Sighs15 min · Free outside
- 3 min walk from the previous stopSt Mark's Campanileyou are here30 min · Paid
- 9 min walk from the previous stopRialto Bridge20 min · Free
5 places · about 4 h 23 min with walks · 18 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- Lift only — accessible to all.
- Book a timed ticket online.
- Best light before sunset.
- The bells are loud on the hour.
Questions
How tall is St Mark's Campanile?
About 98.6 m — Venice's tallest building.
Is there a lift?
Yes, the ascent is by lift only; there are no visitor stairs.
How long do you need?
20–30 minutes at the top, plus queuing time.
Why was the Campanile rebuilt?
The old tower collapsed in 1902 and was rebuilt as an exact copy by 1912.
What can you see from the top?
The whole city, the lagoon and islands, and the Alps on clear days.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia, St Mark's Campanile
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