Although at first glance it may seem that the slender, tall tower, which together with the dome dominates Florence, belongs directly to the main Florentine dome, this is not the case. The campanile, or bell tower, is separated from the cathedral by a gap of about 2 metres. However, its appearance and architecture leave no one in doubt that it belongs to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

Since 1982, the independent bell tower has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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The bell tower, Campanille in Italian, climbs to a height of 84 metres and offers a breathtaking view of the dome of the cathedral and the whole of Florence.

Giotto's Gothic-Renaissance pride

Construction of the bell tower began in 1334, 38 years after the cathedral itself was begun, under the direction of Giotto. Although the bell tower was still being built during the Gothic period, its rich decoration certainly does not deny the onset of the Renaissance. Three years after construction began, Giotto died and his work was taken over by Andrea Pisano, the famous architect who built, for example, the cathedral of Pisa.

After a plague epidemic, the architect Francesco Talenti finally completed the building in 1359. The Campanile was thus completed almost 100 years before the dome of the cathedral.

In addition to the striking façade, which is decorated with dark green, white and pink marble, the rich sculptural decoration depicting man's transition from sin to life in eternity is also striking. Most of the sculptures were designed by the famous Florentine sculptor Donatello.

Admission and opening hours

Visitors today can not only admire the magnificent building from the outside, but they can also go inside, climb the 414 steps and enjoy a magnificent view of the city from 84 metres up. Although the number of steps may seem daunting, the view from the top of the bell tower is truly worth it.

Tickets for the separate bell tower are not sold, you can choose from the following two combinations that include entry to the Campanile:

• Brunelleschi Pass - bell tower, dome, baptistery, Museo dell'Opera dell Duomo: 30 eur (children under 14 for 12 eur)
• Giotto Pass - bell tower, baptistery, Museo dell'Opera dell Duomo: 20 eur (children under 14 for 7 eur)

There are no discounts for seniors.

Tickets can also be purchased online at: operaduomofirenze.skiperformance.com.

When buying online, you choose the date and time, but the exact time must be observed only when entering the dome. Tickets are always valid for 3 days from the date of purchase and individual sights can be visited repeatedly.

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