Campanile San Giorgio Maggiore, Bell tower at San Giorgio Maggiore Island, Italy

Campanile San Giorgio Maggiore is a red brick structure with white stone details that rises on the island of the same name in the lagoon. Its tall, slender form dominates the island and allows views from the top in all directions across the water and neighboring areas.

A first campanile collapsed in 1442 after violent winds and was rebuilt almost identically. It fell again on 27 February 1774, killing one monk and injuring two others. The third tower, erected in 1791 in neoclassical style, is the one visible today.

The tower's bells mark the rhythm of the island's days, with deep tones heard across the water during services and daily hours. These sounds have shaped how people on and around the island experience time for centuries.

An elevator takes visitors to the top, so no climbing stairs is needed to reach the views. Late afternoon typically offers the best light for photographs when the sun sits lower.

At the top sits an angel figure that is crafted by hand and functions as a fixed element. This surprises many visitors who expect it to rotate like a weathervane.