Campanile and its Views, Venice

Favorite thing: It's the tallest belltower in Venice. From the top you can see the whole lagoon.
Even though the tower was erected at the beginning of the 20th century, it is an exact replica of the 15th-century bell tower. In 1609, Galileo Galilei exhibited his telescope here, and during the carnival, the bell tower used to serve as a stage for the tight rope-walkers who entertained the doge with their acrobatics.

Favorite thing: The Campanile di San Marco, or Belltower of St. Mark's, has stood for more than a thousand years--or for less than a century, depending on how you define "truth in advertising."

Although "campanile" means "bell tower," the Campanile di San Marco did double duty as a military watchtower when it was constructed in the 10th Century. Later, as the tower was expanded and refined, its bronze-sheathed roof caught the sun's rays and acted as a daytime beacon for mariners.

The Campanile received an overhaul in the early 1500s after being damaged by an earthquake, giving it the profile that we see today. It also received its share of historic visitors, including Galileo (who showed the Doge his famous telescope in 1609), Goethe (who viewed the Adriatic from the arched windows), and Emperor Frederick III of the Holy Roman Empire, who is said to have ridden his horse up the tower in 1452.

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Favorite thing: To have these stupendous photos you have to climb Il Campanile for sure! Don't worry there is a lift for this visit mission! :)) And it's all for a minimum fee! :) Make sure not to miss this opportunity!

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Favorite thing: One thing I really love about Venice is the Campanile di San Marco, or Bell Tower of St. Mark's, which stands magnificently in Piazza San Marco.

For the best views in Venice, jump in the elevator and ride to the top. From here you can see this fabulous city laid out below you. You can see out into the lagoon and all the islands in the distance.

And you can still even see the pigeons!

Fondest memory: Just take a look and tell me how anyone could not think this is an amazing city!

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Fondest memory: I love to see aerial views over the city and one of the best places for this is from atop the campanile in St Marks square. Santa Maria della Salute, one of several plague churches in Venice, dominatings the sothernmost entrance to the Grand Canal was one of my favourite views from up here. Other good viewpoints to take not of are the other campanile - San Giorgio Maggiore, the Scala Contarini de Bovolo and from the top floor of the Naval Museum near Arsnale in Castello.

Favorite thing: This is the view of the Marks Square you will get, whenever you arrive from the Lido.

The Doges palace and St.Marks Chatedral on the right and the Campanile ( the belltower on the left )

Fondest memory: Make sure you go on top of the Campanile.
There is a lift going to the platform, where you will have a great view over the islands and the houses of Venice

Favorite thing: When you climb the tower in San Marcos Square you will encounter this bell in the tower. It hangs there in this open space where people go to see the "larger" view of Venice, it seems to be waiting for some eager novice to come up and ring it so its peal will be heard over all the city, but for the moment it waits in vain, the tourists look out toward the city, not into the bell tower itself.

Favorite thing: Good news, there is an elevator to the top of the Campanile. The views of Venice from there are awesome and on a clear day you can see the Alps. The first tower was completed in 1173 and was built as a lighthouse. In the Middle Ages it was used as a prison and some prisoners were left to die hanging in a cage from the Tower.
In 1902 it's foundations gave way and the tower collapsed. The new tower was built from donations and was opened on April 25, 1912 on the Feast of St. Mark's day.