Giotto's Bell Tower

Giotto's Bell Tower stands alongside Florence Cathedral and the Baptistery of Saint John as one of the defining monuments of the city's medieval skyline. Designed by the painter and architect Giotto di Bondone, who began construction in 1334, the campanile was completed after his death by Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti. Its exterior is clad in white, green, and pink marble from Carrara, Prato, and the Maremma, forming the same polychrome geometry that characterises the cathedral facade beside it. The tower rises to approximately 85 metres and its upper levels offer unobstructed views across the terracotta rooftops of Florence toward the Arno and the surrounding Tuscan hills.

Visitors can climb the interior staircase to the open-air terraces, passing reproductions of the sculptural reliefs that once decorated the lower register. The originals, carved by Pisano and Luca della Robbia, are held in the nearby Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. Entry to the bell tower is available as a standalone ticket with audio guide or as part of a broader guided city tour that also takes in the cathedral complex.