Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

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Elegant and tucked away, Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is the San Marco palace behind Venice's famous Scala del Bovolo, the snail-like staircase curling up a 26 m (85 ft) tower. Climb 80 stone steps from Corte Contarini del Bovolo to a belvedere of rooftops, domes, and quiet courtyard drama.

Start with an entry ticket for a focused visit, or add an audio guide when you want more context without joining a full tour.

Select a date to find available tickets, tours & activities:

Entry tickets

Choose simple entry when you want the courtyard, 80-step staircase, and belvedere view as a compact stop between San Marco and Rialto.

Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo: Entry Ticket

4.4(446)

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Venice: Scala Contarini del Bovolo Entry Ticket

4.5(525)

getyourguide.com

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Scala Contarini del Bovolo Entrance Tickets

4.6(53)

musement.com

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Audio-guide tickets

Pick an audio-guide ticket if you want flexible pacing with more context on the palace, the staircase, and the San Marco rooftop view.

Venice Scala Contarini del Bovolo Entry Ticket with Audio Guide

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Guided tours and gondola combos

Use these broader formats when you want Bovolo folded into a guided Venice route, often with San Marco highlights or a gondola segment.

Venice: St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, and Gondola Ride

4.3(19)

getyourguide.com

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Venice Walking Tour with Scala del Bovolo Panoramic View

4.4(3)

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Guided Venice Walking Tour and Shared Gondola Ride

5.0(1)

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Venice Skip-the-Line Sights and Gondola Ride

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6 tips for visiting the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

Book the slot you want

If you want the easiest visit, book before heading into the lanes around Campo Manin. Online booking is recommended for individual visitors, and groups of more than 10 need to reserve, so you avoid arriving when the small courtyard is already busy.

Aim for opening or late day

If your priority is calmer photos, choose the first slots or the later afternoon. The lanes between Piazza San Marco and Ponte di Rialto fill up around midday, and a quieter climb lets you enjoy the arches instead of watching the clock.

Respect the 80-step climb

If stairs are tiring for you, decide before booking whether the belvedere is worth the effort. The route rises through 80 stone steps, so stable shoes and a light bag make the visit easier from the first turn.

Use Campo Manin as anchor

If the map starts feeling too Venetian, navigate to Campo Manin first and then look for the turn into Corte Contarini del Bovolo. The last meters are part of the charm, but this keeps the hidden entrance from becoming a stressful treasure hunt.

Bring proof for discounts

If you qualify for reduced or free entry, carry the right ID or membership proof. Categories are checked at the ticket desk, and having documents ready keeps the queue moving for you and everyone behind you.

Pair it, don't overpack

If your day already includes St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, or Teatro La Fenice, keep Bovolo as the short viewpoint pause between bigger interiors. That way the 80 steps feel like a bright reset, not one attraction too many.

Ticket types at Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

The offers for this small San Marco palace split into focused entry, audio-guide visits, and broader Venice routes. Choose by how much context you want around the climb.

Entry tickets for a compact climb

Best for a short architecture stop near Campo Manin. Entry tickets keep your visit focused on the courtyard, the 80-step Scala del Bovolo climb, and the belvedere view, so they work well between Piazza San Marco and Ponte di Rialto plans. Book now.

Audio-guide tickets for independent context

Choose this if you want to control your pace but still understand what you are climbing. An audio guide helps connect the late-Gothic palace, Pietro Contarini's 1499 staircase, and the rooftop finish without locking you into a group route. Book now.

Guided tours and gondola combinations

Great when you want the hidden courtyard to sit inside a bigger Venice day. Guided products connect Bovolo with wider San Marco routes, Doge's Palace, or gondola time on nearby canals, so you get a broader story than a staircase-only stop. Book now.

Staircase, history, and rooftop views

The magic of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is physical: you enter a hidden court, climb a theatrical spiral, and suddenly see Venice from above the lanes.

A San Marco courtyard surprise

The entrance hides in Corte Contarini del Bovolo, close to Campo Manin but away from the widest tourist flow. That contrast is the first pleasure: one moment you are threading through shopping lanes between San Marco and Rialto, the next you are standing under an airy spiral of brick and Istrian stone.

The 1499 Bovolo commission

The palace began as a late-Gothic fontego house, with an older body dating to the 1300s. In 1499, Pietro Contarini commissioned the spiral staircase to embellish the courtyard side, already once bright with floral frescoes. The architect remains debated, which gives the climb a pleasing mystery before you even reach the first loggia.

What the climb feels like

The staircase rises inside a 26 m (85 ft) cylindrical tower, with 80 monolithic steps turning counterclockwise through arches and loggias. It is not a long visit, but it is a real climb. Take it slowly, pause at the openings, and let the view widen in stages rather than rushing straight to the top.

The belvedere and the odd afterlife

At the belvedere, the reward is a roofline view over the lagoon city rather than a grand-square panorama. The palace later became a lodging house in the 19th century, and one guest, astronomer Ernst Wilhelm Tempel, used the terrace for sky observations and discovered the C/1859 comet and the Merope Nebula. It is a lovely thought: one of Venice's best hidden views once looked outward to the stars.

How to fit Bovolo into a Venice day

This is a small stop with a strong personality. It works best when you use it as a pause between major sights, not as a rushed add-on at the end of the day.

First-time Venice routes

If this is your first Venice visit, place Bovolo between Piazza San Marco, St Mark's Basilica, and Ponte di Rialto. You get the famous axis, then one quieter architectural surprise that keeps the day from becoming only queues and grand facades.

Repeat visitors and quiet-lane days

If you already know the headline sights, pair the staircase with Teatro La Fenice, Campo Manin, and a slow walk toward Sant'Angelo. That route turns the visit into a compact study of hidden San Marco: opera, courtyards, small bridges, and one rooftop payoff.

Families and mobility-sensitive plans

Families usually do best when the stop is short, hands are free, and children know there are 80 steps before the view. For limited-mobility travelers, decide on the staircase before paying for a timed visit. The experience is memorable, but the route is built around the climb.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I plan for Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo?

Plan about 30-45 minutes for the courtyard, the 80-step climb, and the belvedere. Allow closer to 60 minutes if you use an audio guide, linger over photos, or fit the stop between other timed entries in San Marco.

Do I need to book in advance?

For individual visitors, online booking is recommended but not required. Groups of more than 10 people must reserve in advance by email, so sort that out before you reach Campo Manin.

What are the opening times?

The 2026 season runs daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm through October 25, with last admission at 5:30 pm. Holiday hours differ in late December, so recheck if you visit around Christmas or New Year's Eve.

Is the staircase suitable for limited mobility?

The main experience requires 80 steps to reach the belvedere. Treat it as a stair-based visit unless the venue confirms another option for your date, and contact the venue before buying a timed product if stairs are difficult.

What does a standard ticket include?

A standard visit focuses on Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, the spiral staircase, the belvedere, and exhibition rooms when they are open. If the exhibition rooms close, a reduced single entrance fee may apply.

When is the best time to visit?

Opening time is best if you want a quieter climb, while late afternoon gives softer light over the rooftops. Midday can feel busier because the route sits between San Marco and Rialto.

Is Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo good with children?

Yes, if the children are comfortable with stairs and close supervision. Children under 12 are in a free-entry category, and the short climb-view format can work well between longer museum visits.

Should I choose entry-only or a guided combo?

Choose entry-only if Bovolo is a focused architectural stop. Choose guided or gondola-combo formats when you want this hidden courtyard connected with wider Venice stories, especially around San Marco.

General information

opening hours

2026 season: daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm through October 25, with last admission at 5:30 pm. The palace is closed on December 25 and 26. On December 24 and 31, the palace closes at 4:00 pm, with last admission at 3:30 pm. Recheck hours close to winter holiday dates.

tickets

Ticket prices: full ticket €9; reduced ticket €7 for ages 12-26, seniors over 65, and eligible association members; private photoshooting and Carnival-mask ticket €15. Free categories include children under 12, Venice residents with proof, licensed guides, and people with disabilities with one companion. Online booking is recommended for individual visitors; groups of more than 10 must reserve by writing to booking@fondazioneveneziaservizi.it.

address

Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
San Marco 4303
Corte Contarini del Bovolo
30124 Venice VE
Italy

how to get there

In car-free Venice, arrive by vaporetto and finish on foot. Rialto, Sant'Angelo, and San Marco Vallaresso are practical stops depending on your route. The entrance sits near Campo Manin, between Piazza San Marco and Ponte di Rialto; use a map for the final lanes because the courtyard is easy to miss.

accessibility

The visit centers on an ascent of 80 monolithic steps to the belvedere. Treat the climb as stair-only unless the venue confirms another option for your date. If stairs are a concern, contact the venue before booking. Free admission categories include people with disabilities and one companion.

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