The bell tower of San Martino Church stands in Piazza Galuppi, Burano’s main square. It was designed by the architect Andrea Tirali and built between 1703 and 1714. The tower is 53 meters (174 feet) tall, with a square base of 6.20 meters (about 20 feet). It is made completely of brick.
The tower began to lean even while it was still being built, because the ground under the island is soft and wet. Local people call it “il campanile pendente,” which means “the leaning tower,” just like the famous tower in Pisa. Over the years, the lean grew stronger. Finally, in 1970, engineer Fernando Lizzi and his team finished important work to make the tower more stable.
Today, this leaning tower is a symbol of Burano. Visitors enjoy taking photos of it next to the island’s colorful pink, blue, and yellow houses.
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