Video: Berkeley student Elina Sheykh-Zade takes us on a tour of the esplanade at the foot of the Campanile, the towering bell and clock-tower at the heart of the campus.
Sather Tower, known to most as the Campanile, is perhaps UC Berkeley's most famous symbol. Visible for miles, it stands 307 feet tall and is the third tallest bell and clock-tower in the world. The observation platform, located 200 feet up, provides visitors with a spectacular view of the entire Bay Area and of the campus. It is reachable via the combination of an elevator and stairs. The Campanile was completed in 1914.
Hours: Monday through Friday, the Campanile will be open from 10 a.m. until 3:45 p.m.
On Saturdays, it will be open from 10 a.m. until 4:45 p.m.
Sundays it will be open from 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., and from 3 p.m. until 4:45 p.m.
Accessibility: The observation platform of this historical landmark is not wheelchair accessible, as there are 38 stairs from the top of the elevator up to the observation platform.
Cost: $2 general admission (18 years and over); $1 for seniors, California Alumni Association members with ID, and ages 17 and under. The Campanile is free to UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff with Cal ID, and children under 3.
The Carillon: Even if you don't take a tour, you can enjoy the music of the Campanile's set of bells, called a carillon, from all over campus. Located above the observation platform, the 61 massive bells weigh from 19 to 10,500 pounds. The carillonists play brief concerts every day at 7:50 a.m., 12 p.m., and 6 p.m., and longer ones on Sundays at 2 p.m. (Learn more about Berkeley's carillon.)