St Mark’s Campanile

Nicknamed the “Master of the House” by Venetians, St Mark’s Campanile is one of the city’s oldest symbols. Its construction was first ordered in 888 by the 17th Doge of Venice. While the tower was being built, the ground collapsed, and the initial construction was never completed. Misfortune didn’t stop there. The second version was affected by a fire in 1489, an earthquake in 1511, and finally a devastating collapse in 1902. Fortunately, there were no human casualties—the only victim was the campanile keeper’s cat; may it rest in peace. Rising from the ashes, the tower was rebuilt to its original appearance on the very same spot. Sadly, its five original bells were lost forever—apart from the largest one. In a symbolic gesture, the unusable debris from the collapse was wrapped in a black cloth and buried in the lagoon. Once used by sailors as a lighthouse and a wind indicator, St Mark’s Campanile remains a highly popular site. Its main feature today is by far the breathtaking view from its 99-metre high tower.