Campanile di San Marco / St. Mark’s Belfry (Venice, Italy)
N 45° 26.039 E 012° 20.353
33T E 291879 N 5034606
Campanile di San Marco (St. Mark’s Belfry) is the bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) in Venice, located in the square of the same name. Campanile di San Marco is a recognizable symbol of Venice...
Waymark Code: WM6DZT
Location: Veneto, Italy
Date Posted: 05/19/2009
Views: 118
The belfry is 98.6 meters tall, and stands alone in a corner of St. Mark’s Square, near the front of the Basilica di San Marco. It has a simple form, the bulk of which is a plain brick shaft, 12 meters on a side and 50 meters tall, above which is the arched belfry, housing five bells.
The tower is capped by a pyramidal spire, at the top of which sits a golden weathervane in the form of the archangel Gabriel. The campanile reached its present form in 1514. As it stands today, however, the tower is a reconstruction, completed in 1912 after the collapse of 1902.
Each of the five bells of the campanile had a special purpose. The Renghiera (or the Maleficio) announced executions; the Mezza Terza proclaimed a session of the Senate; the Nona sounded midday; the Trottiera called the members of the Maggior Consiglio to council meetings and the Marangona , the biggest, rang to mark the beginning and ending of working day.