You don't have to be Christian to appreciate the beauty of the free standing bell tower next to the Basilica di San Marco. Usually known as St Mark's Campanile, this impressive protector of Venice has become one of the venerable city's most-loved symbols.

The bell tower is one of the most prominent features of the Venetian skyline. It's hard not to miss, at 323 feet (100 meters) tall. Made of simple and elegant brick, it stands alone in St Mark's Square, housing five bells. Looking way up, you see a golden weather vane of the Archangel Gabriel standing on top of a pyramid-shaped spire.

Not many of Venice's original structures remain. The current St. Mark's Campanile is a perfect replica of the one which collapsed in 1902. It had stood for over 500 years. The current incarnation - its third - was built in 1912.

The current incarnation of St Mark's Campanile is based on the second tower, which sports the shape and features that made it world-renowned. It was this second tower that Venetians fell in love with and began to identify with. Non-Venetian fans of St Mark's Campanile include Galileo and Goethe (who wasn't even Italian).

Venetians appreciate the many services the unique bell tower has performed for the city. Not only do the bells help save their souls, but they also have served to warn of incoming armies. Because it was the biggest structure in Venice for many centuries, they military used it for defensive purposes, while tourists and artists have used it to "see forever".

Each of the five bells has different jobs. The largest is to announce the beginning and ending of a usual work day. A second acts like a clock bell, gonging the hour. One is reserved to call the Venetian Senators to the Doge's Palace. Another is for when prisoners are executed.

The Campanile looks less gaudy than many of the buildings surrounding St Mark's square, but is still a breath-taking sight. The top of the tower's bricks are covered in gold leaf in order to reflect the sun and transform the bell tower into a lighthouse. If your eyes are good enough, you can see designs in bas relief of lions and a goddess-like woman nicknamed "Justice", the embodiment of Venice herself.

Tourists love riding the elevator to the attic to see the bells and the incredible view of the square, and of Venice herself. The attic and belfrey also has intricate marble works that you can't see from the ground.