Campanile a fun outing for whole family

IF you’re in need of a fun and educational physical activity for the whole family, walking up the recently refurbished Campanile is a must.

Only a few steps away from the city centre’s taxi rank and railway station, the bell tower, completed in 1922, stands just more than 51m tall.

On arrival you will be greeted by your tour guide and given an informative account of the colonial history of the tower.

As you climb each floor your guide will explain how the tower has been refurbished to incorporate South African elements into each floor, thus providing an inclusive representation of the 95-year-old structure.

The climb consists of seven storeys, up a narrow flight of stairs. As you climb the steps leading up to the sixth and seventh floor the number of steps increases which poses a challenge to the unfit.

However, climbers can take a break at each floor to regain strength. Wheelchair-bound and physically challenged visitors can use the lift, but need to contact the tower office to make sure that the lift is in working order.

Proudly South African elements include the 67th step dedicated to Nelson Mandela, photographs of children presenting their drawings of the tower and a pair of new bells dedicated to the people of Nelson Mandela Bay and those who died on SS Mendi.

A beautiful view of the city awaits you on the seventh floor – and take along a pen to write your name on the wall at the top of the tower.

Visitors who do not speak English, isiXhosa or Afrikaans may ask for a guide who is fluent in Italian, French, German or Zulu.

At present, the Campanile climb is free, and open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm, and on Saturdays from 9am to 3pm.

To book a free guided tour, contact Lungelo Ngabaza from Lungton Tours at 063-166-2997 or 063-881-2484, or e-mail: malilunge@gmail.com.