You haven’t truly seen Venice until you see the bell tower (the Campanile) of the Basilica di San Marco and St Mark’s Square. This is the structure around which the rest of Venice revolves. It is also considered the symbol of the soul of Venice.
Although next to a cathedral, the bell tower is free-standing. It’s plain but elegant next to the overdone gaudiness of the cathedral. It towers almost 100 meters high (323 feet) and has a base of 39 square feet. It has to be that big and sturdy to house the five bells. Atop the spire is a weather vane in the shape of the Archangel Gabriel.
What exists today is actually a replica of a replica. The second St. Mark’s Campanile (the first to take on its familiar shape) collapsed for no known reason in 1902 after 500 years of faithful service and was rebuilt in 1912.
The current incarnation of St Mark’s Campanile is based on the second tower, which sports the shape and features that made it world-renowned. It was this second tower that Venetians fell in love with and began to identify with. Non-Venetian fans of St Mark’s Campanile include Galileo and Goethe (who wasn’t even Italian).
Venetians appreciate the many services the unique bell tower has performed for the city. Not only do the bells help save their souls, but they also have served to warn of incoming armies. Because it was the biggest structure in Venice for many centuries, they military used it for defensive purposes, while tourists and artists have used it to “see forever”.
The bells ring for different reasons. The largest bell rings just to herald the start and stop of a work day. One rings just to herald the ninth hour. Another is reserved just to summon the Venetian politicians to go to the Doge’s Palace.
At first, a big brick structure sounds a bit boring, but the Campanile is anything but boring. The eye is immediately drawn to the simple brick tower base. The upper portion has bricks covered in gold leaf (this is what turns the tower into a lighthouse). The belfry is covered with bas relief of lions (the animal of St Mark) and a goddess-like figure that is supposed to represent Venice.
Many tourists enjoy taking the elevator ride up the Campanile to enjoy the view and the interior artwork of the tower. They can also see the intricate marble works of the attic and meet the bells in the belfry.
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