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Torcello Belltower : It's incredible to think this tower is more than 1,000 years old and it's still standing strong
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Campanile di Santa Maria Assunta

Torcello Belltower

Thousand-year-old bell tower offering sweeping views over the wild lagoon.

Torcello From Above

Standard admission is €5 or €9 if combined with a visit to the parent basilica, Santa Maria Assunta.

What makes it special

Unique untamed views

Instead of Venice’s familiar rooftops, the belfry offers a sweeping panorama of wild, astonishingly beautiful nature. This unique perspective on the lagoon evokes how it might have appeared long before Venice was born.

Interesting climb

You’ll ascend to the top via an inclined ramp that winds along the tower’s inner perimeter, with a few stairs scattered along the way.

Torcello Belltower : Finally at the top, it’s reassuring to know a protective net is in place for safety, though many visitors mention it can make photographing a bit tricky

Open Gallery for more insights

Your experience here

  • Get your blood pumping and ascend to bird’s-eye level.
  • See the entire wild lagoon unfold beneath you.
  • Understand the typical lagoon terrain that existed before Venice was built upon it.
  • Consider entering the Basilica to see some of the most remarkable mosaics.

Open Gallery to get the feel

The view from the top

What exactly can you expect to see from the belfry of Torcello’s bell tower? Here’s what to look for when you reach the top.

Wild lagoon landscape

All around the tower, whether part of Torcello or beyond, stretch vast expanses of greenery, reeds, and marshland, with winding water channels like capillaries threading through the landscape.

All of it recalls the untamed beauty of the lagoon, as it was before Venice ever existed.

Torcello Belltower : Ok, and now: the views! After all, that’s why you’re here, right? Peaceful, beautiful and wild views.

Famous nearby islands

Burano is the easiest to spot thanks to its colorful houses and relative proximity.

Further in the distance, you can recognize Murano by its lighthouse, and beyond that, Venice itself, with its countless domes and campanili.

Torcello Belltower : And even Murano to the right — you can spot the lighthouse clearly

Marco Polo airport

Thanks to its relatively close proximity to the airport, you can even do a bit of plane spotting, watching aircraft take off and land.

Torcello Belltower : In the other direction, you might find yourself plane spotting — Torcello is relatively close to Marco Polo Airport

The Alps

On rare clear days, especially during colder weather, you might even catch a glimpse of the distant Alps to the north!

Getting to the bell tower

Arrive by boat

There are two main ways to reach Torcello from Venice, both by water: take the DIY route on a public vaporetto or join a guided boat tour.

More details on both options are available in the transportation section for Torcello.

Continue on foot

Once you arrive at the island’s pier, you’ll need to walk about 0.7 kilometers (0.45 miles) along a paved path.

The path runs parallel to a canal, winding through peaceful surroundings, occasionally dotted with a few restaurants.

It’s a pleasant 10–15 minute stroll that leads directly to your destination

Torcello : What’s now a quiet path once ran through the center of a thriving community

What to see nearby

These top spots are just a short walk from Torcello Belltower:

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