Caorle is a resort on the Veneto coast that’s renowned in Italy and worldwide as a beautiful seaside destination with a multi-coloured historic centre.
Every year, tourists from all over Europe choose to spend their holidays here. They come not only for the accommodation – which ranges from hotels to campsites and from holiday homes to apartments in holiday villages – but unquestionably also for the atmosphere and the wealth of history, art, events and traditions, not to mention the exquisite food and wine.
Another key ingredient in an authentic Caorle welcome is played by the numerous summer events for tourists. One that we definitely recommend watching at least once is Burning the Bell Tower in Caorle: a ceremony with roots stretching back into the mists of time that’s a truly stunning sight.
Burning the Bell Tower in Caorle: history and fascinating facts
Both locals and tourists flock to witness the enchanting, engaging and extremely popular religious event.
The round bell tower appears in many photos and postcards as a symbol of Caorle. It’s “burned” to commemorate a fire in 1923, which began after an attempted theft and destroyed a holy sculpture: a Madonna that was thought to protect the town’s fishermen out at sea. Out of devotion to her, the local people immediately commissioned a master sculptor from Val Gardena to make a new statue.
The spellbindingly beautiful scenes and atmospheric blend of history and religion attract huge crowds not only of Catholics, but also people of other religions (and none).
How and when does the bell tower display take place?
Burning the Bell Tower is an event that usually takes place on the second Saturday and Sunday in July next to Caorle Cathedral in Piazza Vescovado, which is where the bell tower stands. The stunning light show is held in conjunction with the Procession of Our Lady of the Angels.
It all starts at around 9:00 pm on the Saturday, with mass in the seafront sanctuary. The statue of Our Lady of the Angels is then carried in procession to the cathedral. When it arrives in Piazza Vescovado, red lights resembling flames burst into life and make it look like the round bell tower is burning.
As people sing and pray, the procession then takes the Madonna into the cathedral, where it is placed in the nave in order to receive all the prayers and supplications of devotees.
On Sunday, another procession takes the statue back to its usual home in the little church by the sea and mass is held in the cathedral at 9:00 pm.
Other traditions in Caorle
Caorle is a treasure trove of traditions that are passed down from one generation to the next. They help to bring all of the people of the town together, while also entrancing and piquing the curiosity of all tourists, whether they’ve been coming to Caorle for years or they’re visiting for the first time.
Fishing and “whispered auctions”
Caorle’s heritage takes many forms, but the most famous of all is definitely its maritime tradition. For decades, the town lived off the sea and its economy revolved around catching and selling fish. There’s a unique charm to this age-old way of making a living, the last step in which was bringing the catch back into harbour, ready to be sold at the fish market. This was done using a distinctive process called a “whispered auction”, during which buyers would whisper bids for each crate of fish into the auctioneer’s ear.
Seafood and other cuisine
With all this great seafood around, it’s no surprise Caorle is also famous for its cuisine. The town’s restaurants, bars and hotels serve culinary delights based on classic recipes, or give them a modern twist.
In September every year, there’s a fish festival on the beach near the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell’Angelo.
The five-yearly Procession of Our Lady of the Angels
As mentioned above, as well as Burning the Bell Tower, another hugely popular event among locals and tourists in Caorle is the Procession of Our Lady of the Angels. Once every five years, it’s even more memorable because the statue is carried on people’s shoulders from the sanctuary down to the harbour, hoisted onto a specially decorated boat and taken on a boat parade along the river and over the sea, eventually reaching the Sanctuary again and being put back in its usual place.
Various legends and religious beliefs are associated with the holy image. One is the story of fishermen who saw the statue floating in the sea even though it was on a heavy marble base. Later, its considerable weight meant that nobody was able to lift it, until some children came along and somehow managed to pick it up. As a result, this image of the Virgin Mary is venerated by many believers, who attribute a number of miracles to it.
The Living Rocks
No good walk in Caorle would be complete without a nice stroll around the historic centre, where you might think a painter has had fun using every single colour on his palette.
Head up towards the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell’Angelo and then wander along the quay and admire the sight of the blue sea over the Living Rocks, where the coastal defences have been embellished by the sculptural creations of Italian and international artists over the years.
Various sculptors are usually invited to take part in a sculpture event in June every two years. In June 2025, don’t miss the chance to watch them working with chisels, grinders, drills and files. Taking inspiration from the sea, life and the wonders of the world, they produce magnificent works of art in front of admiring spectators.
How to get to Caorle to watch the Burning Bell Tower
The crowds watching the Burning Bell Tower keep getting bigger. If you’d like to join them, we recommend driving to Caorle. It’s easy to find somewhere to park near Luna Park and AquaFollie. From there, in 10 to 15 minutes a gentle stroll will take you down to the historic centre, where you can watch the proceedings. You can find out all about free and paid parking facilities in Caorle here.
If you’d like to keep track of all the latest details not only about the events described above but also other initiatives in Caorle, Jesolo and Bibione, follow our blog, where you’ll find all sorts of useful tips to help you organize an unbeatable holiday.
If you’d like to book a holiday in Caorle, visit our website. As well as finding lots of information about the resort, you can search for accommodation and take your pick from a range of up-to-date offers for your chosen period.
If you can’t find anywhere that’s available or you have any questions, you can contact our branch. Our staff will be happy to help you and give you all the advice you need to have a relaxing, fun and fulfilling holiday.
