Scala Contarini del Bovolo Spiral Staircase Tickets Venice

The Scala Contarini del Bovolo spiral staircase

The Scala Contarini del Bovolo was commissioned in 1499 by Pietro Contarini and is a masterpiece of the Venetian late Gothic and early Renaissance styles. The word bovolo means snail shell in the Venetian dialect, and the shape says it all: a slender cylindrical tower, about twenty-six metres high, wraps eighty steps in an elegant spiral of arches and loggias built of white Istrian stone and warm brick.

Climbing the staircase is the heart of the visit, and each level opens a slightly different view of the courtyard and the neighbouring roofs. Many visitors search for the Scala Contarini del Bovolo tickets after seeing photographs of it, and in person it is even more impressive.

The Belvedere terrace and the view

At the top of the tower, the Belvedere terrace opens a 360-degree view over Venice: red-tiled roofs, bell towers, the domes of San Marco's neighbours and the lagoon in the distance. Because the tower is central, you see the city as a whole rather than a single monument.

The best light is in the morning or late afternoon, when the roofs glow, though the terrace is open air and can be windy. It is worth taking your time up there, and it is an excellent alternative for visitors who want a Venice viewpoint without the queues of larger towers.

Palazzo Contarini di San Paternian and its halls

The staircase belongs to Palazzo Contarini di San Paternian, a late Gothic palace dating from the fourteenth century. Your ticket includes entry to two halls of the palace, where fragments of the original frescoes survive, and where you learn about the building's history, including its use as a lodging house in the nineteenth century.

One of its famous guests was the German astronomer Ernst Wilhelm Tempel, who discovered a comet and a nebula in the Pleiades while staying here. It is a small piece of science history tucked into a Venetian palace.

How to get to the staircase and plan your visit

The staircase is in the San Marco district, a short walk from Campo Manin, between Rialto and Piazza San Marco. Many visitors ask how to get to the Scala Contarini del Bovolo: follow the signs from Rialto, or use the map on your voucher, as the passage is narrow and easy to miss. After you buy your ticket, you must exchange it at the staircase ticket office.

The palace is generally open daily from mid-morning to late afternoon with last entry about half an hour before closing, but opening hours can change, so check the booking panel. The visit is not suitable for people with reduced mobility or wheelchair users, and strollers, backpacks, tripods, food and drinks are not allowed.