Scala Contarini del Bovolo
A Renaissance spiral external staircase hidden in a narrow lane. From the top, you can look over Venice's rooftops and the Campanile of St Mark's.
This spiral staircase at Palazzo Contarini was built at the end of the 15th century. Its arcades wind upward in layers, resembling a snail shell, which gives it the name bovolo, the Venetian dialect word for snail. It blends Gothic and Renaissance styles. From the circular pavilion at the top, you get a 360-degree view of the red-tiled rooftops, the bell tower and the dome of St Mark's Basilica, and there are far fewer visitors than at the Campanile. Admission is about €8–10. The small interior gallery displays sketches by Tintoretto. The staircase lies between St Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge, down a secluded lane, so a navigation app is recommended.
Opening hours
10:00–18:00 (check the official website)
Nearby sights
- Teatro La Fenice
- Museo Correr
- Grand Canal & Rialto Bridge
- Punta della Dogana
- Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
- Fondaco dei Tedeschi
- St Mark's Clocktower
- St Mark's Campanile