Campanile di Giotto (Giotto's Bell Tower), Florence (must see)
The famous Bell Tower of Giotto is one of Florence鈥檚 most iconic landmarks. Though it stands beside the Cathedral, it鈥檚 actually a freestanding belfry, designed by the legendary artist and architect Giotto di Bondone鈥攖he very same Giotto who鈥檚 often credited as the first great figure of the Italian Renaissance. Rising to a height of 85 meters, this stunning structure is a remarkable example of Florentine Gothic architecture, adorned with sculptural details and colorful marble inlays in white, green, and red.
Sadly, Giotto passed away before the tower was completed, and two other architects had to carry on the work. Still, his artistic touch is unmistakable鈥攆rom the marble patterns on the fa莽ade to the figurative cycle within the belfry. He may not have finished it, but his vision set the tone for everything that followed.
Yes, you can climb the tower鈥攁nd of the three major ones in Florence, this one is actually the easiest to scale. The staircase has 414 steps, but they鈥檙e well spaced, with rest areas between levels. Each stop reveals one of the seven bells inside鈥攐ne for each note on the musical scale. Unlike the often-crowded Cathedral, this famous landmark feels more open, with room to pause, catch your breath, and enjoy the views.
And those views are something else. From the top, you鈥檒l get a rare angle on the Cathedral鈥檚 dome, a neat view of the Baptistery, and a sweeping look across the city鈥檚 red-tiled rooftops and winding streets鈥攎any of which have barely changed in centuries.
Tip: Your combo ticket for the Florence Cathedral complex includes access to the Bell Tower鈥攏o reservation needed. Once activated, the ticket is valid for 72 hours, giving you plenty of time to visit the other sites. While you may have to wait in line, the queue for the tower is usually short and moves quickly.
Sadly, Giotto passed away before the tower was completed, and two other architects had to carry on the work. Still, his artistic touch is unmistakable鈥攆rom the marble patterns on the fa莽ade to the figurative cycle within the belfry. He may not have finished it, but his vision set the tone for everything that followed.
Yes, you can climb the tower鈥攁nd of the three major ones in Florence, this one is actually the easiest to scale. The staircase has 414 steps, but they鈥檙e well spaced, with rest areas between levels. Each stop reveals one of the seven bells inside鈥攐ne for each note on the musical scale. Unlike the often-crowded Cathedral, this famous landmark feels more open, with room to pause, catch your breath, and enjoy the views.
And those views are something else. From the top, you鈥檒l get a rare angle on the Cathedral鈥檚 dome, a neat view of the Baptistery, and a sweeping look across the city鈥檚 red-tiled rooftops and winding streets鈥攎any of which have barely changed in centuries.
Tip: Your combo ticket for the Florence Cathedral complex includes access to the Bell Tower鈥攏o reservation needed. Once activated, the ticket is valid for 72 hours, giving you plenty of time to visit the other sites. While you may have to wait in line, the queue for the tower is usually short and moves quickly.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Florence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Campanile di Giotto (Giotto's Bell Tower) on Map
Sight Name: Campanile di Giotto (Giotto's Bell Tower)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Florence, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Florence
Creating your own self-guided walk in Florence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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Dante Alighieri was arguably the greatest 鈥� albeit also most controversial 鈥� of Italy's poets. After having served as one of the six priors governing Florence, his political activities 鈥� including the banishing of several rivals 鈥� led to his own banishment, upon which he wrote his masterpiece, 鈥淭he Divine Comedy鈥�, as a wanderer, seeking protection for his family in one town after... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Florence Introduction Walking Tour
Florence was founded in 59 BC by Julius Caesar as a settlement for his veteran soldiers. Laid out like a Roman military camp, its main roads intersected at what is now the Republic Square. Originally named Fluentia, referencing its location between two rivers, the city later adopted the name Florentia, meaning 鈥渇lowering鈥� or 鈥渇lourishing鈥�.
And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Duomo Walking Tour
Right in the heart of historic Florence lies the Duomo district鈥攖he city's religious and civic core, and one of the most remarkable places in all of Italy. Between the Duomo and Signoria squares, Florence unfolds in layers of art, history, and architectural brilliance, offering a never-ending stream of things to see, do, and admire.
At the center of it all stands the Florence Cathedral,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
At the center of it all stands the Florence Cathedral,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Medici Landmarks Walking Tour
The Medici family helped to establish Florence as the single most important art capital of Renaissance Europe. In order to prove wealth and power, they built numerous palaces, libraries, churches, chapels and personal residences. The Medicis were big lovers of art and they acquired huge, expensive collections, as well as supporting many sculptors and painters of the time.
Designed by... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Designed by... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
In Galileo's Footsteps
Galileo Galilei鈥攂orn in Pisa in 1564鈥攕pent much of his life in and around Florence, where some of the most defining moments of his revolutionary career unfolded. A genius of many talents鈥攑hysicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor鈥攈e helped usher in the scientific revolution and reshape humanity鈥檚 understanding of the universe. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, became a... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles
Arno South Bank Walking Tour
The area south of the Arno River鈥攌nown as Oltrarno, or 鈥淏eyond the Arno鈥濃�攐ffers a quieter, more intimate side of Florence, but one that鈥檚 no less captivating. It鈥檚 here that you鈥檒l find the grand Pitti Palace, home to a painting collection rivaled only by the Uffizi Gallery, and the expansive Boboli Gardens, once the private domain of the Medici and later, the royal family. As one of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
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