Friday, March 28, 2008 

Venice St Mark's Campanile to Topple?

The ANNOTICO Report 

Affectionately nicknamed El Paron de Casa (The Gaffer), the bell-tower, or 'campanile', was first built in 1156-73 on the site of an older tower dating back to around 900 AD. After suffering structural damage, the tower was rebuilt in the 16th century, but the campanile collapsed completely in 1902.  The much-photographed current tower was built in 1912.

The 99-metre bell-tower is sloping by seven centimetres, a year - due to its foundation consists of thousands of wooden posts driven into the water logged ground under Venice and its Canals  The Restoration work which started this week will depend on a  titanium belt that will be wrapped around its foundations two metres below ground and will be invisible from the outside.

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Thanks to Pat Gabriel

Work begins on Venice bell-tower

Titanium belt to prevent St Mark's campanile from toppling

(ANSA) - Venice, 

March 27, 2008 

Work began in Venice this week to fit a titanium belt to one of the city's most famous landmarks, the bell-tower in St Mark's Square.

Experts were called in after a survey revealed the 99-metre bell-tower is sloping by seven centimetres, a sign that its foundations - thousands of wooden posts driven into unstable ground - are failing to provide adequate support.

Surveyors also reckon the foundations of the tower are cracking by a millimetre a year.

To prevent the tower from toppling over, the titanium belt will be wrapped around its foundations two metres below ground and will be invisible from the outside.

Consorzio Venezia Nuova (CVN), the conservation group in charge of the restoration, has warned that the picturesque square - a must on Italy's tourist trail - will be covered in scaffolding for the next two years while the belt is fitted.

Work will also be carried out on the Ducal Palace and the Ponte della Paglia in the square, CVN said.

Affectionately nicknamed El Paron de Casa (The Gaffer), the bell-tower, or 'campanile', was first built in 1156-73 on the site of an older tower dating back to around 900 AD.

After suffering structural damage, the tower was rebuilt in the 16th century, but the campanile collapsed completely in 1902.

The much-photographed current tower was built in 1912 at a cost of 500,000 lire and commands a magnificent view over the city and its lagoon