Scala Contarini del Bovolo and Vertical Venice

In the heart of the San Marco district, hidden within a quiet courtyard, rises a tower crossed by a spiral staircase that seems designed more to astonish than simply to connect floors.

It is the Scala Contarini del Bovolo.

Why is it called Bovolo

We ask Laura from the I Love Tourists network.

“Bovolo means snail in Venetian dialect. And here architecture becomes movement.”

Built at the end of the fifteenth century as a scenic addition to Palazzo Contarini, the staircase combines Gothic taste with early Renaissance influences in a solution that was remarkably bold for its time.

Is it worth climbing

“Yes, and not only for the view,” Laura explains. “Halfway up, you encounter a space that often surprises visitors.”

During the ascent, you enter the so-called Sala del Tintoretto, also known as the Tintorio. The name recalls Venice’s artisanal dyeing tradition; today the room hosts exhibitions and cultural events.

Currently, until the end of March 2026, it presents Altinum, a photographic project that places archaeology, the human body, and landscape in dialogue, transforming the climb into an experience that merges architecture with visual storytelling.

What do you discover at the top

“A Venice that cannot be perceived from below,” Laura replies. “Roofs, altane, chimneys. A different point of view.”

📍 Scala Contarini del Bovolo
Corte Contarini del Bovolo, San Marco 4303, 30124 Venice

To place sites like this within a broader narrative of the city, you can join one of the walking tours dedicated to a less obvious Venice.