campanile

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Campanile view – Looking west towards Central

Yesterday I posted a picture of the view looking north from the Campanile observation floor.  It means I have three more directions and what's the use of showing you only one?  So here is the view to the west.  The Settlers Freeway is at the bottom and slightly to the left of the centre of the picture is Market Square and the historic Public Library in the city centre.  Above on the hill is the Donkin Reserve, lighthouse and pyramid with the Great…

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20/10/2017
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Campanile view – Looking north along the Settlers Freeway

There are four viewing windows at the top of the Campanile.  The new full-length viewing window looks out to the east over the Port Elizabeth Harbour.  The view south is towards the beachfront, west across the city centre towards the Donkin Reserve and then north along the Settlers Freeway.  Looking at the picture the Settlers Freeway (M4) is on the left and the railway lines on the right.  The roof at the bottom of the picture is the Port Elizabeth Station building. …

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19/10/2017
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The Campanile’s new viewing window

One of the new features of the recently refurbished Campanile is a full-length viewing window on the harbour side of the tower.  The window has caused some ruptions with historic purists but personally I think its a great addition.  The window really gives the best view of the adjacent Port Elizabeth Harbour and all its activities.

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16/10/2017
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A tour of the Campanile

It's very easy to do a self-guided walk around Route 67 but if you really want to get the just of it then you have to do it on a guided tour.  There are a number of guides who do the walk and more information is available from the Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism info centre at the Donkin Lighthouse building.  When I visited the Campanile the other day there was a guide and intern based at the entrance who were…

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13/10/2017
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Step 67 of 204 going up the Campanile

The Campanile is actually seen as the starting point of Route 67 going up the hill and ending at the Donkin Reserve.  With the refurbishment and re-opening of the Campanile recently, it is now fully part of Route 67 and one of the novel bits that was added to the Campanile was marking step number 67 as you climb up the tower's 204 steps.Just for those unfamiliar with what Route 67 is, it consists of 67 public art pieces symbolising…

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11/10/2017
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Renovated Campanile

Have you been to visit the newly renovated Campanile yet?  After extensive renovations which included the removal, renovation and return of the bells, total overhaul of the bell structure, installation of  a lift (if only they can get it to work properly), the installation of a big full length viewing window on the harbourside, a viewing hatch to see the bells and a number of new smaller features, the Campanile - originally opened in 1923 - reopened to the public about…

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10/10/2017
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I’mmmmm baaaaack

When I started blogging in 2008 I didn't do it because I wanted to be a blogger.  I did it because I enjoyed traveling (even if it was just around my own city) and taking photos, and wanted to share everything I got to see with others.  Over the years I've done over 3000 posts on Port Elizabeth Daily Photo and close to 1800 on Firefly the Travel Guy, shared pictures and information of many places and things, discovered so…

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09/10/2017
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Hoisting the Campanile Bells

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fKyTXTvpBg&w=500&h=400]After taking down the Campanile bells and the renovation process, the bells have just been hoisted back into the top of the Campanile with Bell #23 going up on Wednesday.  Somebody thought it may be a good idea to attache a GoPro to the bell before it went up and thus we can all join it as it got hoisted back up.

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12/08/2016
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Then and Now – The Campanile bells

The Campanile, wedged between the Port Elizabeth Railway Station, the PE Harbour and the Settlers Freeway, was built to celebrate the centenary of the landing of the British Settlers in 1820.  The tower was built on the landing beach where the Settlers came ashore with the foundation stone being laid in 1921.  It was officially opened in 1923, the clock was installed in 1925 (started at noon on 28 April of that year) and the bells hung in 1936.  The…

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03/05/2016
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Lowering the Campanile bells

The Campanile was opened in 1923 with the bells installed in 1936.  Although the bells have received renovations while in position, the tower has only had cosmetic work done over the years.  Recently an inspection of the Campanile showed that the structure holding the bells was in a bad state and in need of urgent repairs.  It meant that the bells has to be taken out to replace the structure in the tower's top.  While admiring and taking photos of…

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02/05/2016