The Campanile di Giotto

One of the major tourist attractions in Florence, Italy is the Campanile di Giotto, which is a free-standing bell tower designed by Giotto di Bondone in 1334. Giotto was a very well-known architect, designer, painter, and sculptor, and was very influential in the creation of numerous other landmarks in Florence. He died three years after the construction started, but Andrea Pisano took over, followed by Francesco Talenti.

The bell tower is located in Cathedral Square, or Piazza del Duomo, and next to the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore. Builders used red, white, and green marble from Sienna, Carrara, and Prato to create the exterior of the tower. These colors are some of the many elements that are used to identify the influence of Michelangelo and Giotto in sculptures around Florence. There are statues on the lower levels of the tower which are copies of original statues that can be seen in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. The tower stretches over 278 feet into the air, and has 414 steps to climb to reach the top of the tower. Once tourists reach the top, there is a magnificent view of the entire town of Florence, which some claim is the most beautiful panoramic view in all of Italy, as well as a view all the way down the center of the tower to the lobby floor below.

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