Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

The Campanile in Venice, Italy, is a prominent bell tower, standing at 324 feet (99 meters) tall. It is a free-standing structure, primarily built with Venetian red-clay brick, and its slightly rectangular form dominates the skyline of Venice, being visible from miles across the lagoon.1

Originally begun before 912, the tower was significantly altered into its current form in the early 16th century. In 1902, the Campanile tragically collapsed, but it was meticulously rebuilt by 1912 using a reinforced concrete core, preserving its original appearance. Today, visitors can ascend via an elevator to the belfry, which offers panoramic views of Venice, the mainland, and the sea. At the base of the Campanile is the Loggetta, a colonnaded portico designed by Sansovino, which was also restored after the collapse and now serves as an entrance for visitors.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.