campanili

Campanili are bell towers, either freestanding structures or integrated with churches, that house bells and project sound over surrounding areas. The term is Italian, with the singular campanile and the plural campanili. It derives from campana, meaning bell, with a diminutive suffix, conveying the sense of a “little bell tower.”

Architecturally, campanili are typically tall, slender towers built of brick or stone. They feature openings or arcades at the belfry level to allow bells to toll and sound to carry. Many have a spire, cupola, or pyramidal top, sometimes finished with a weather vane, statue, or cross. The design can be square, cylindrical, or polygonal, and in some cases the campanile is freestanding, while in others it forms a prominent part of the church façade or transept.

Function and significance have varied historically. Campanili housed bells that marked time, summoned worshippers, and signaled events or warnings within a town or city. In medieval and Renaissance Italy, they often reflected both religious prestige and civic authority, becoming central elements of urban landscapes.

Notable examples include the Campanile di San Marco in Venice, the Leaning Tower of Pisa (the bell tower of the Pisa Cathedral), and Giotto’s Campanile in Florence. While the term is especially associated with Italian architecture, the concept of a bell tower is widespread across Europe, with variations in form and ornamentation.