Giotto’s bell tower florence

The gradual pace of construction discouraged the Florence City Council, prompting them to entrust the entire project to the Arte della Lana Guild. This organization raised the necessary funds in just three years, giving new momentum to the work. The reimagining of the bell tower was entrusted to Master Giotto di Bondone, who dedicated himself fervently to the project from 1334 onwards. The Tower’s foundations had already been laid in 1298 during the earlier work directed by Arnolfo di Cambio.

Giotto created an imposing structure strategically positioned next to the facade. It is speculated that he intended to leave space for the future dome designed by Brunelleschi. Indications and incomplete designs by Di Cambio already hinted at the addition of a monumental covering for the Duomo. Unfortunately, history tells us that the great master Giotto passed away on January 8, 1337, barely seeing his vision take shape.

Giotto’s Campanile, also known as the Tower of Giotto, was envisioned to surpass one hundred meters in height. Its style reflects classic influences and is adorned with diamond and hexagon decorations, as depicted in a preserved sketch at the Museum of the Opera del Duomo in Siena. The subsequent head architect, Andrea Pisano, followed the master’s instructions for only the first two levels, collaborating with Alberto Arnoldi on their ornamentation. He then deviated from the original design’s bas-reliefs and replaced them with niches.

Construction halted for two years during the plague pandemic before Francesco Talenti completed the Tower in 1359. Giotto’s Campanile reached a total height of 85 meters. Talenti’s involvement gave the structure a more Gothic appearance, achieved primarily through the large windows on the upper levels and by replacing Giotto’s intended spired roof with a panoramic terrace.

Giotto’s bell tower florence – Design

The first striking feature of the Florence Cathedral‘s bell tower is undoubtedly the marble’s vibrant colors: Prato’s green serpentinite, Siena and Stazzema‘s red, and Marittima and Serravezza‘s white. These form a symphony of colors that tie together the various monuments within the Duomo Complex. The bas-reliefs adorning the first level, framed within hexagonal panels on the lower tier and lozenge-shaped on the second, were part of Giotto‘s original plan.

Andrea Pisano enlisted the help of his son Nino and prominent Florentine sculptors such as Maso di Banco, Gino Micheli da Castello, Luca della Robbia, and Alberto Arnoldi to bring these reliefs to life. On the west side, you’ll find scenes depicting the Creation of Adam, the Creation of Eve, the work of the ancestors, and various stages of artistic and vocational evolution.

These include the invention of shepherding, music, metallurgy, and winemaking, represented by the prophets Jabel, Jubal, Tubalcain, and Noah. On the second level, diamond shapes symbolize the seven planets.

Continuing on the south side, the themes are carried through Gionitus, Foroneo, and Daedalus, representing the arts of astronomy, legislation, and mechanics. Architecture, Medicine, Horsemanship, and Weaving follow this sequence. Above these panels, the lozenges depict Theological Virtues and Cardinal Virtues.

On the east side, you’ll encounter Hercules and Cacus, Euclid and Tepsis’s Chariot, symbolizing the arts of justice, theater, and architecture, followed by Navigation with Oars and Cultivation. The diamond-shaped panels represent the Trivium and Quadrivium arts. Moving to the north side, the sculptures feature figures such as Phidias, Apelles, Heliodorus, Plato, Aristotle, Arion, Euclid, Pythagoras, and finally, Pythagoras alone. These represent sculpture, painting, grammar, philosophy, music, geometry and arithmetic, and harmony or astrology. The tablets on this side portray the Seven Sacraments.

On the second level, you’ll discover the sixteen pointed arch niches designed by Andrea Pisano, each containing statues of kings, sibyls, patriarchs, and prophets sculpted by Donatello, Nanni di Bartolo, Maso di Banco, Andrea Pisano himself, and his son Nino. Some of these works were completed long after the construction ended, yet they are still considered authentic Renaissance masterpieces.

On the north side, you can admire the Sibyl of Tibur, David, Solomon, and the Sibyl of Eritrea. The west side is adorned with figures like the Prophet Daniel, the Prophet Obadiah, and the magnificent Prophets Habakkuk and Jeremiah by Donatello.

On the south side stands the Prophet Moses and three unnamed Prophets. Finally, the east side presents Abraham Sacrificing Isaac alongside three other unnamed prophets, likely Malachi, Zechariah, and Isaiah.

To complete the upper three floors of Giotto’s bell tower florence, Talenti erected four corner pillars that supported the structure, connected by pediments. The first and second floors feature paired biforate windows, while the third floor holds trefoils with pediments. This topmost level is crowned with a terrace adorned with an intricate fence, serving as the bell chamber.

Giotto’s bell tower florence boasts twelve bells in Florence, including five older ones that have retired from the current concert. The central Apostolica bell, Beona, Maria Anna and two smaller bells are still in use. The recently constructed concert consists of Campanone, Misericordia, the new Apostolica, Annunziata, Mater Dei, L’Assunta, and L’Immacolata.

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Fun Facts You Might Not Have Known About the Florence Bell Tower

The Bell Tower of Florence Cathedral symbolizes Signoria’s power during the 15th century. At that time, given the city’s constant demographic and economic growth, the public image was meticulously cultivated, and considerable funds were invested to bestow upon history the beauty we still enjoy today. Imagine what it meant back then to criticize works like Giotto’s Bell Tower casually.

In this regard, there’s an interesting anecdote. It is said that a citizen from Verona passed by the construction site and laughed, declaring that Giotto’s Tower would never be completed because Florence Signoria could never afford the economic resources to cover it entirely in marble.

He was accused of contempt and arrested for two months. Later, he was taken to the treasurer, who promptly showed him the riches with which Florence could marble the bell tower and even the entire city if desired!

At the outset of constructing the bell tower, there were several hiccups: the structure immediately exhibited noticeable instability, giving rise to the legend that the great master Giotto was killed by the intense grief caused by this debacle. Giorgio Vasari mentions Taddeo Gaddi as Giotto’s immediate successor, although this needs to be documented in the construction records. It was Gaddi who quickly rectified the structural imperfections of the first section built by Giotto.

Recent research has been initiated regarding Giotto’s Bell Tower after discovering a Treasury Room, likely constructed when the work was entrusted to Andrea Pisano.

The master builder Francesco Talenti, who completed the bell tower construction, married none other than one of Giotto’s daughters.

The Opera del Duomo Museum preserves the original sculptures adorned by the bell towers’ facade.

Have you ever thought about how many steps there are in Giotto’s Bell Tower? Precisely, you’ll need to climb a total of 414 steps! Like Brunelleschi’s Dome, you’ll have to walk quite a bit before reaching the top and enjoying the panorama.

Giotto’s Bell Tower: Hours, Prices, and Days to Visit the Bell Tower of Florence Cathedral

As mentioned in the article dedicated to the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Giotto’s Bell Tower is part of the Cathedral Complex. To visit Giotto’s bell tower starting April 2022, you must have BRUNELLESCHI PASS or GIOTTO PASS. These passes are valid for three days. The bell tower is included in 2 passes, which range in cost from €20-30, depending on whether you want to visit four or all five monuments. Also, you now must reserve a time to climb Giotto’s bell tower. You can’t just show up and wait in line to climb it.

Here are the passes:

1. BRUNELLESCHI PASS: This is the all-inclusive pass that includes ALL of the monuments in Piazza del Duomo, including the climb up the Cupola. It is, of course, the most expensive at €30 per person, reduced for kids between 7 and 14 years old to €12 and free to kids under 6 years old.
2. GIOTTO PASS: Includes all of the sites EXCEPT for the Cupola. It costs €20 for adults, €7 for ages 7-14 and free under 6.
3. GHIBERTI PASS: Includes all of the sites that do not require climbing; that is, it excludes the Bell tower and Cupola. It thus includes the museum, the Baptistery, and the Crypt of Santa Reparata. Cost is €15 for adults, €5 for ages 7-14, and again free to kids under 6.

The available hours and days to visit Giotto’s work in Florence during the tour are as follows:

• Monday – Sunday: 8:15 AM – 7:45 PM

Children up to six can benefit from a free ticket, while for those aged between six and eleven, a reduced ticket of €3.00 is available. Free entry is also granted to:

• Handicapped tourists with companions
• Members of the clergy
• Journalists.

How to Reach Giotto’s Bell Tower in Florence

If you’re still wondering what to visit in Florence and find yourself at Santa Maria Novella Station, know it will take about ten minutes to walk to Giotto’s Bell Tower! Like reaching Brunelleschi’s Dome, proceed towards Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia after passing Piazza della Stazione. Once done, cross Via Panzani and turn onto Via de’ Cerretani on the left, which will lead you to Piazza San Giovanni. Turn right onto Via dei Calzaiuoli to find yourself in Piazza del Duomo, where you’ll stand before the majestic Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral.