Florence Baptistery
Florence, Italy
Giotto's Bell Tower, Florence
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Photo: Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Paid, combined cathedral pass
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Opening hours
- Daily by day
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Height
- About 85 m
- Steps
- 414, no lift
- Time needed
- About an hour
- Location
- Piazza del Duomo, right of the cathedral front
Key facts
1334work began to Giotto's design
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English Wikipedia1359Francesco Talenti completed the tower
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English Wikipediac. 85 mheight of the bell tower
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English Wikipedia414steps to the top terrace
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English Wikipedia3 coloursof marble: white, green and pink
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English WikipediaHistory of Giotto's Bell Tower
In 1334 the city put the famous painter Giotto di Bondone, by then head of the cathedral works, in charge of building its bell tower. Giotto completed only the lowest storey. The sculptor Andrea Pisano carried on, and the architect Francesco Talenti finished it in 1359, adding the upper storeys with their large pointed windows.
Although Giotto built only part of it, the tower still bears his name. It's clad in the same three-coloured marble as the cathedral: white from Carrara, green from Prato and pink from near Siena. With the cathedral and the Baptistery it forms the famous Piazza del Duomo group.
The tower is about 85 metres tall. It stands apart from the cathedral, to the right of its front, and looks light and slender from below despite its thick walls. The windows widen from storey to storey, so the tower seems to grow lighter towards the top.
The reliefs at the base
Walk round the base first: the lowest storey is decorated with two rows of reliefs. Hexagonal panels tell the story of humanity and its crafts: the creation of Adam and Eve, the first farmers, weavers, builders, sailors, musicians and astronomers. It's a medieval encyclopaedia of knowledge about the world.
Above them, in diamond frames, are the planets, the virtues, the liberal arts and the sacraments. Some reliefs were carved by Andrea Pisano to Giotto's designs, others by Luca della Robbia. The tower now carries copies; the originals are in the Opera del Duomo Museum, where you can see them close up.
What to see on Giotto's Bell Tower
- Reliefs of the crafts — on the base, outside.
- Three-coloured marble — white, green and pink.
- Pointed windows — at the landings on the way up.
- The bells — visible from the upper storeys.
- Brunelleschi's dome — right opposite the top terrace.
- Panorama of Florence — out to the Fiesole hills.
The climb
There are 414 steps to the top and no lift. The stairs are narrow and steep in places, and people coming down use the same stairs, so sometimes you have to squeeze against the wall. The good news is that there are several landings on the way where you can rest and look through pointed windows down onto the square and the Baptistery.
The top terrace is fenced with a grille and looks out over the whole city: Piazza della Signoria and the Palazzo Vecchio tower, Santa Croce, the Arno and its bridges, and the green hills all around. But the star is Brunelleschi's huge red dome, so close you can see people on its viewing gallery.
The climb takes 20 to 30 minutes; with the descent and time at the top, about an hour. It isn't recommended if you're afraid of heights or tight stairwells, or have heart problems.
How to get to Giotto's Bell Tower
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Where are you starting from?
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On foot
- Florence Baptistery is about 1 min away on foot.
- Florence Cathedral is about 1 min away on foot.
- Laurentian Library is about 5 min away on foot.
More tips
- The tower is on Piazza del Duomo, to the right of the cathedral front.
- From Santa Maria Novella station, 10 minutes on foot.
- From Piazza della Signoria, 5 minutes.
- The entrance is at the foot of the tower, on the square side.
Tickets and tips
There's usually no separate tower ticket: the climb is part of the combined cathedral pass, together with the Baptistery, the Opera del Duomo Museum and, on the full version, the dome. Buy it on the official cathedral website or at the ticket office on the square.
Come at opening time or towards evening: in summer it's hot at the top and stuffy on the stairs at midday. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. Large backpacks and bags aren't allowed and must be left at the cloakroom. Sunset light on the dome is beautiful, but check what time the last entry is.
Before you climb
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Views of Florence: compare and choose
Viewpoints and panoramas in Florence rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| Florence Cathedral | 60 | 2 h | Free | 3 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponte Vecchio | 60 | 20 min | Free | 10 min walk |
| Piazza della Signoria | 53 | 40 min | Free | 6 min walk |
| Palazzo Vecchio | 52 | 1 h 30 min | Courtyard free, museum paid | 7 min walk |
| Vasari Corridor | 45 | 1 h | Paid, timed entry | 7 min walk |
| San Miniato al Monte | 43 | 45 min | Free | 29 min walk |
| Piazzale Michelangelo | 42 | 1 h | Free | 23 min walk |
| Giotto's Campanileyou are here | 41 | 1 h | Combined cathedral pass | — |
| Boboli Gardens | 36 | 1 h 45 min | Paid | 25 min walk |
| Fiesole | 35 | 4 h | Town free, ruins paid | 4.7 km |
Piazza del Duomo in a morning
Giotto's Bell Tower, the cathedral and the Baptistery, then Piazza della Signoria.
- Giotto's Campanileyou are here1 h · Combined cathedral pass
- 3 min walk from the previous stopFlorence Cathedral2 h · Free; dome paid
- 3 min walk from the previous stopFlorence Baptistery30 min · Combined cathedral pass
- 6 min walk from the previous stopPiazza della Signoria40 min · Free
4 places · about 4 h 22 min with walks · 12 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- 414 steps, no lift.
- The best view of the dome.
- Come at opening time.
- Large bags go in the cloakroom.
Questions
How many steps are there in Giotto's Bell Tower?
414 steps to the top terrace, with no lift; there are landings to rest on the way.
Which is better, Giotto's Bell Tower or the dome?
The bell tower gives you a view of Brunelleschi's dome and usually a shorter queue; the dome is higher but you can't see the dome from it.
How much is it to climb Giotto's Bell Tower?
The climb is on the combined cathedral pass; prices are on the official cathedral site.
How tall is Giotto's Bell Tower?
About 85 metres.
How long does the climb take?
20 to 30 minutes up; about an hour including the descent and the view.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia: Giotto's Campanile
- Official cathedral site, duomo.firenze.it
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