Giotto's Bell Tower (Campanile di Giotto, Giotto's Campanile) is a tall bell tower in Florence, which is an outstanding example of Florentine Gothic architecture with rich sculptural decorations and polychrome marble inlays.
The bell tower can be climbed; there is a 360-degree observation deck.
The bell tower is the one-standing bell tower of the Cathedral of Florence (Santa Maria del Fiore) and part of the general complex of buildings that make up the Florence Cathedral.
The bell tower received the name "Giotto" from its designer and creator of its first tier - the Italian architect and painter Giotto di Bondone.
The bell tower is located in the heart of Florence, on the Piazza del Duomo.
The construction of the bell tower was started in 1334 and completed in 1359.
The design and the lower part of the bell tower were created by Giotto di Bondone. Then, after Giotto's death, the construction was continued by Andrea Pisano, who created two tiers of the bell tower. After Pisano, the construction was taken over by Francesco Talenti, who completed the construction of the bell tower, including the upper terrace, thereby rejecting Giotto's gabled roof project.
The bell tower also received bright architectural decorations. All the current works of art in the bell tower are copies. The originals were removed between 1965 and 1967 and are now on display at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, located behind the cathedral.
The bell tower has a height of 84.7 meters and about 15 meters wide, and is also the most eloquent evidence of Florentine Gothic architecture of the fourteenth century, which, despite its vertical orientation, does not abandon the principle of a monumental foundation.
Architecture and decorations of the Giotto Bell Tower
Giotto's bell tower has bright architectural decorations. It is covered with white, red and green marble. All the reliefs, statues and decorations of the bell tower form a single whole, if they are interpreted from the point of view of medieval scholastic philosophy.
Hexagonal panels with reliefs on the lower level depict the history of mankind, inspired by the Book of Genesis. The reliefs begin with the creation of man and follow each other with the depiction of his activities, the planets that regulate the course of his existence, the virtues that strengthen him, the liberal arts that instruct him, and the sacraments that sanctify him.
Above there are niches with statues.
In sixteen niches (four on each side of the bell tower) there are figures of kings and sibyls, as well as patriarchs and prophets, some of which were executed by Nanni di Banco and Donatello, including the beautiful group "Sacrifice of Isaac" by Donatello, which represents one of the highest achievements of fifteenth-century naturalism in sculpture.
The next three levels are distinguished by high windows-bifor. The campanile completes the bell tower, which is a large projecting terrace.
Photo of the campanile of the Giotto bell tower, view from the observation deck of the Brunelleschi dome of the Cathedral
Observation deck in the Giotto Bell Tower
There is a 360-degree observation deck in the bell tower, which offers beautiful views of the whole of Florence and even beyond the city limits.
The ascent to the observation terrace of the bell tower is carried out by stairs (there is no elevator), with a total of 414 steps.
During the ascent, guests are accompanied by three viewing platforms and the last one, located at the very top - the terrace of the bell tower. The higher you climb, the more picturesque the views are.
The first three levels of the observation deck are views from the windows of the bell tower on the three upper tiers. And the last - the highest observation deck, located at an altitude of 82 meters, is circular and gives one of the best views in Florence of both the cathedral complex and the city, and the Tuscan hills outside Florence.
1st level of the observation deck and views
2nd level of the observation deck and views
3rd level of the observation deck and views
There is a historical bell, originally created in 1401 and weighing 1,268 kilograms.
Upper level of the observation deck
on the terrace of Giotto's bell tow
Practical information
The ascent to the Giotto Bell tower is paid.
The ascent is included in the single tickets for visiting the ensemble of monuments of the Santa Maria del Fiore complex, which, in addition to the bell tower, also includes: the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Brunelleschi dome with an observation deck, the Opera Duomo Museum and the ancient Basilica of Santa Reparata under the cathedral. The ticket is valid for 3 days.
To climb the dome of the cathedral (if you want to visit it too), you must choose in advance (when buying a ticket) the time of ascent to the dome, by which you will have to approach the entrance to the ascent to the dome. All other facilities of the complex can be visited at any time of the ticket validity.
There are various combinations of tickets. Tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket offices (information centers) on the square near the cathedral.
We recommend you to check the exact and detailed information about tickets and their cost, the opening hours of the facilities of the complex and other information on the official website of the complex: duomo.firenze.it.
All accommodation facilities in Florence (hotels, apartments, guest houses, etc.), including in the historical center of the city and more remotely from it, can be viewed and booked here
