Campanile di San Marco

St. Mark's Bell Tower is one of the symbols of the city of Venice. With its 98.6 meters high, is one of the highest towers in Italy. It stands isolated in a corner of St Mark's Square, in front of the Basilica. Simple in form, consists of a barrel of bricks, slotted, and the belfry arch. The belfry is in turn topped by a cube, whose faces are depicted two lions and the female representation of Venice (Justice); everything is enhanced by the cusp, of pyramidal shape, on top of which stands the golden statue of the Archangel Gabriel. The base of the building is enhanced by the Sansovino Loggia. The Bell Tower was originally a watchtower and lighthouse, in the ninth century, under the Doge Pietro Tribune. The Tower, already seriously damaged by lightning in 1489, was badly hit by an earthquake in 1511, necessitating the start of consolidation works. These works started by the architect Giorgio Spavento, were then carried out under the direction of Pietro Bon, who gave Bell the final appearance. In particular, the belfry was rebuilt in marble, with an attic surmounted by a slender spire in bronze to make the Tower visible from the sea. In 1609, Galileo Galilei used the it to make a demonstration of his telescope. In the centuries it was made several interventions: following the collapse of 1902, the statue of the Archangel Gabriel was damaged and the restoration was entrusted to Gioacchino Dorigo. In 1962, an elevator was installed that allows visitors to admire the scenery of Venice from above. The bells are five, fused by the Brothers Barigozzi (except Marangona, cast by Domenico Canciani). During the Venice Carnival, Shrove Tuesday, one of the attractions was the "Flight of the Angel": the exhibition of an acrobat who descended from the Tower to the St. Mark Basin walking along a rope. It was later replaced by a wooden dove, still visible with "Flight of the Dove" during the Sunday before Shrove Tuesday.