Scala Contarini del Bovolo Tickets: Skip the Line in Venice

Climb a Renaissance spiral staircase without the queue outside

Scala Contarini del Bovolo is a skip-the-line ticket to Venice's most distinctive Renaissance staircase, a 26-meter cylindrical tower of Istrian stone and brick commissioned by Pietro Contarini in 1499. Walk straight past the entrance line and ascend the spiral at your own pace. The ticket is valid for one visit and children from age 1 are welcome. All areas are wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Scala Contarini del Bovolo

• Arrive at the palace
• Explore the late gothic building
• View fresco fragments
• Climb the spiral staircase
• Observe the cylindrical tower and arches

The experience

The Bovolo Staircase sits inside the Contarini Palace, a late-gothic structure that dates to 1300 and once served as a family residence strategically positioned between the Rialto market and San Marco's political center. Pietro Contarini added the spiral staircase nearly two centuries later, not for function but to embellish the palace facade: a graceful cylindrical tower pierced by a series of arches and lodges that connect it to the adjacent building. The tower stands 26 meters high, built in Istrian stone and exposed brick, and the staircase itself spirals upward inside it, a feat of Renaissance engineering whose architect remains disputed among historians, though Giovanni Candi and Giorgio Spavento are both credited.

Skip-the-line access means you enter without waiting at the door, a practical advantage in a city where popular attractions draw crowds throughout the day. The climb itself is self-paced (there is no tour group, no guide, no fixed schedule), so you move at whatever speed suits you. Wheelchair users can access all areas and surfaces. Infants and small children can be brought in a pram or stroller. Service animals are allowed. The ticket covers one entry and is valid for the duration of your visit to Venice.

What’s included

• Skip-the-line entry to the Scala Contarini del Bovolo.
• access to all areas of the 26-meter cylindrical tower and spiral staircase at your own pace.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (1 to 17 years)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Weekend in Italy

Is this one for you?This is a self-guided ticket, so you climb the staircase alone or with whoever you bring, without a guide or group schedule: ideal if you want to move at your own speed and spend as much time as you like on each level. The skip-the-line access is what makes a quick visit possible if you have only a free afternoon in Venice.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (1 to 17 years).

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair to the Scala Contarini del Bovolo?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can be brought in a pram or stroller. Service animals are also allowed.

What is the Bovolo Staircase and why was it built?

The Bovolo Staircase is a spiral staircase inside a 26-meter cylindrical tower commissioned by Pietro Contarini in 1499 to embellish the Contarini Palace. The palace itself dates to 1300 and was chosen by the noble Contarini family for its location between the Rialto market and San Marco, the center of Venetian political power. The staircase was built for decoration rather than practical access, and it remains one of Venice's most distinctive Renaissance structures.

Do I need to wait in line with this ticket?

No. The skip-the-line access allows you to enter directly without waiting at the door, a significant advantage during busy times of day.

How long does a visit to the Scala Contarini del Bovolo usually take?

Most visitors spend around an hour at the staircase, though the time depends on your pace and how long you linger on each level to look at the arches and the views from the tower.