MONTANARI 4 ARCHITECTURE – MODERNIZATION OF THE SAINT MARK’S BELL TOWER IN VENICE
Since 1970, MONTANARI GROUP has been a recognized leader in the production of traction machines, safety devices and accessories for lifts, a reliable partner for installation and modernization projects in some of the world’s most iconic buildings. These include the famous Saint Mark Bell’s Tower, symbol of the city of Venice, where an ambitious MOD project has been completed in February 2025.
The Bell Tower’s lift system, originally installed in 1962, is the exclusive access for over 2,000 tourists every day to reach the top and enjoy the panoramic view of St Mark’s Square and the entire Lagoon of Venice. A strategic and indispensable service to guarantee full accessibility to this architectural jewel that the whole world envies us.
For the modernization of this unique installation, TK Elevator Italia relied on the experience and technical expertise of MONTANARI, that is able to respond to complex challenges with tailor-made solutions: for the San Marco project, the MONTANARI GROUP developed an integrated customized solution, made of a gearbox and a interface bedplate, compatible with an existing metal support. We installed the M105B traction machine by MONTANARI GIULIO&C, our Italian Headquarters, with a 800 mm traction sheave and a emergency brake on the slow shaft in accordance with EN 81-20/50 regulation, designed to offer maximum technical performance and safety in challenging and high-traffic system, as San Marco.
The Bell tower lift features challenging characteristics in terms of ride length (over 50m), number of passengers (capacity 1120kg), speed (1.85m/s) as well as frequency of travel, almost always at full load – heavy use conditions that expose the system to constant and high stress. Not to mention the difficulties in accessing the machine room, which offers a 70m narrow entrance that considerably complicates any intervention, both planned maintenance and even worse emergency ones. In critical installation as San Marco, it is essential to avoid any downtime or disruption, which would entail very high intervention costs and compromise the safety and comfort of visitors then the reputation of the Monument and the city.
Thanks to its modular design, the MONTANARI gearbox proved to be the optimal choice to face the machine room’s physical constraints. In fact, the machine could be partially disassembled before supply to simplify transport, handling and installation in the machine room.
To ensure maximum longevity and reliability considering the environmental conditions typical of the Venetian lagoon, particularly humid and brackish, the electric motor, with IP41 protection rating and equipped with side electric fans, has undergone a special tropicalization treatment and ad hoc painting has been applied on the traction machine.
In addition to the rigorous standard tests, that MONTANARI systematically carries out on all components and all traction machines at maximum capacity, for the St. Mark gearbox further technical tests were carried out inside the Headquarters’ Testing Tower, to replicate the real use conditions. The MONTANARI Tower, a 50-metre-high facility with 3 lift shafts located in Modena, represents a technological excellence, a quality guarantee that only MONTANARI is able to offer by now.
In the most complex installation and modernization projects, MONTANARI’s technical expertise goes beyond the product quality, yet embraces also the constant technical assistance and the guarantee to meet installation and completion deadline.
Reliability, safety and tailor-made design represent the true mission of MONTANARI, since ever committed to supporting the most critical vertical mobility projects, such as monuments, public places, hospitals, shopping centres, airports and hospitality venues. Today MONTANARI modernization range represents the widest and most specialized proposal available on the market, supported by excellent technical assistance and custom design service.
THE BELL TOWER – NICE TO KNOW
St Mark’s Bell Tower is considered the main symbol of the city of Venice, synonymous with architectural beauty and resilience to disasters. Affectionately known by Venetians as ‘El parón de casa’ (the ‘master of the house’), the bell tower rises majestically next to St Mark’s Basilica on the famous homonymous square. With a 98.6 metre height, it is still one of the tallest bell towers in Italy, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world and offering a breathtaking view of the city and its lagoon.
Built in the 11th century AD as a watchtower and lighthouse, after its sudden collapse on 14 July 1902, it was completely rebuilt respecting the original Byzantine-Renaissance style and reopened to the public in 1912.
The first lift system was installed in 1962 to allow visitors to climb up to the belfry and enjoy the panoramic view of Venice – a real revolution in terms of accessibility to the bell tower and boost for the touristic importance of the site. Even today, the lift is the exclusive way for over 2,000 visitors every day to reach the top and admire the historic centre of Venice from above.
The belfry, built in 1909 and consisting of a concert of five rocking bells, represents the final stop for the lift, from which the panoramic terrace can be accessed. In order to preserve the bell tower’s architectural stability, in 2018 the bells were deactivated and flanked by five external electro-percussors that simulate the sound of traditional swinging bells.