The campanile, or bell tower on Piazza San Marco may look like it’s been there for centuries. But this present tower has only stood since 1902—a veritable youngster on the Venetian landscape—after a sudden collapse leveled the 12th-century tower. You’ll have to wait in line for the elevator (though skip-the-line tickets are sold via the Basilica website), to be rewarded with a bird’s eye view that stretches for miles—not unlike the one Galileo saw when he tested his telescope here in the 1500s.
Time Out tip: The views from the top are indeed serene, but for €8 per person and what could be a long wait, we think there are better ways to spend your time and money in Venice.
Nearby:
National Archaeological Museum: For artifacts from Egypt, Greece and the Near East
Gelato Fantasy: For a cup or cone of the real thing
Salita San Moise: For wall-to-wall designer shopping