Scala Contarini del Bovolo, a Hidden Gem of Venice
Scala Contarini del Bovolo is one of the lesser-known tourist attractions from Venice, but it is definitely worth a visit. It is actually the curious spiral-shaped external staircase of the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo. The climb is worth the effort, as a beautiful view of Venice unfolds before you from the top.
Palazzo and Scala Contarini del Bovolo are located in the sestiere (district) of San Marco, near Campo Manin. If you want to come by vaporetto, take line 1 or 2 to the Rialto station. From there, you will have a 5-minute walk.
Scala Contarini del Bovolo is managed by the Venezia Servizi alla Persona Foundation, along with three other sites (Oratorio dei Crociferi, Complesso dell'Ospedaletto, and Chiesa delle Penitenti). The latter can only be visited during certain periods (they are open on some days during Easter, the winter holidays, or the Venice Carnival) or upon request, for groups.
Ticket Prices
The price of an entrance ticket to Scala Contarini del Bovolo and the exhibition rooms in Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is:
- Adult: €9 EUR (if there are no exhibitions, the ticket price is €7)
- Over 65: €7
- 12-26 years: €7
- Children under 12: free
From January 17 to March 26, 2026, the photography exhibition Altinum: Tra passato e futuro is being held at Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo.
Opening Hours
Access to Scala Contarini del Bovolo is available during the following opening hours:
January 2 - February 22, 2026:
- Monday-Sunday: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
February 23 - October 25, 2026:
- Monday-Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
Palazzo and Scala Contarini del Bovolo
As the name suggests, the palace belonged to the Contarini family. The site where it was erected, around the 1300s, was chosen because it occupied a strategic position, being located between Rialto Market, the city's commercial center, and St. Mark's Square, the center of political power. Of the floral-themed frescoes that once decorated the palace, only a few fragments remain today.
The unusual external staircase was added later, in 1499, at the request of Pietro Contarini, who wished to embelish this part of the palace. From then on, the name Bovolo (which, in Venetian dialect, translates to "spiral staircase") was added to the Contarini name.
According to a legend, Contarini built the staircase so he could reach the top floor, where the bedroom was located, directly on horseback.
The architect is unknown. The Renaissance-style staircase has 80 steps made of Istrian stone (which is found in many of Venice's buildings) and is built inside a cylindrical tower with a height of 26m. Seven levels of arches open to the outside, and a structure with five levels of loggias connects it to the main building.
From the top level, called "Belvedere", a beautiful panoramic view of Venice opens up. You will immediately recognize the high tower of the St. Mark's Campanile and, to its left, the round domes of St. Mark's Basilica. To the left, you can see the three small Gothic towers on the facade of the Santi Giovanni e Paolo Church. Somewhere between the church and the campanile, you can catch a glimpse of the roof of the La Fenice Theater (located just a 5-minute walk from Scala Contarini del Bovolo), the leaning tower of the Santo Stefano Church, and the top of the Santa Maria della Salute Basilica.
In 1859, Ernst Wilhelm Tempel made astronomical observations from this terrace, discovering comet C/1859 and the nebula around the star Merope, the brightest part of the Pleiades.
Art exhibitions are frequently organized in the rooms on the second level of the palace.
