Caorle’s Silent Sentinel and the Sea’s Secret Stories

Behind Caorle’s iconic round bell tower lies a treasure trove of underwater wonders—told not by waves, but through the lens of a local diver who turned marine biology into visual poetry.

Caorle’s round bell tower is hard to miss—and harder to forget. Standing proudly beside the town’s Romanesque cathedral Campanile del Duomo di Caorle, it’s one of the few remaining cylindrical campaniles in all of Italy. Built in the 11th century, it once served as a lighthouse, guiding fishermen home through Adriatic storms. Its bricks have weathered invasions, sea spray, and centuries of bell tolls echoing across the lagoon.

Campanile del Duomo di Caorle (Bell Tower of Caorle Cathedral)

But this time, something else caught our eye.

Tucked in the cloistered shade just outside the cathedral walls, we stumbled upon a different kind of beacon: an open-air marine photography exhibit by a local diver and marine biologist. Each image—a turtle’s curious stare, a lobster’s armored poise, the glint of red fish eyes in inky blackness—offered a glimpse into a world just offshore but rarely seen.

Photos part of Interreg Italia-Slovenia, promoting biodiversity awareness in the Northern Adriatic

The project is part of Interreg Italia-Slovenia, promoting biodiversity awareness in the Northern Adriatic. And suddenly, this quiet corner of Caorle turned into an unexpected dialogue between the sacred and the scientific, between medieval brickwork and coral reefs.

 

Out There > Motorhome Trip Spring 2025 Western Balkans and Greece > Caorle Cathedral