Campanile di Giotto

Don’t get discourage by the line line for the bell tower, it goes fairly quick. Once you get past the ticketing booth in the first floor, you can take your time climbing up the 400+ steps. There are rest stops in between where you can rest and take in the view from the different levels. There are certain areas where it gets a little cozy, but most everyone was friendly to let you up or down first. The view from the top was just amazing. I wanted to climb the Dome, but the view from the bell tower was just as great, maybe even better because you get a view of the Duomo.

Florence can’t seem to disappoint. It’s full of beauty in all directions and Giotto’s Bell Tower is a great way to see that all that Florence has to offer. The staircase is rather narrow so be careful, but it’s well worth it!

This was stop three after purchasing an all-​access Duomo pass for 10 Euros. After lunch, we headed back to climb the Duomo Bell Tower. It was also an intense hike (like the journey up to the Duomo Cupola), but the view was once again worth the effort! We even sang Happy Birthday for my Grandma O at the top :)

Sportlich sollte man schon sein — 414 Stufen am frühen Morgen sind schon kein Pappenstiel — aber es lohnt sich zu 100%, alleine schon, um sich Brunelleschis Dom und die Kuppel mal aus der Nähe anzuschauen. Und wenn man es dann mal geschafft hat, kann man auch gleich noch sehr stolz auf sich sein. Und gleichzeitig kann man den atemberaubenden 360° Ausblick über die gesamte Stadt genießen.

I highly recommend climbing the Campanile. Views of the Cathedral and Florence make this worth every penny (and every step). This is a pleasant, easy climb (not like the dark, steep maze of the Duomo). Stairways are wide, and there is plenty of room for people to pass. Take a few minutes at the top to just look around and take in the view.

If you think the Duomo is the only place to get a great view of central Florence, then you’re highly mistaken. The Campanile di Giotto (aka Giotto’s Bell Tower) is another and typically far less crowded than the ever popular Duomo.
Designed by Giotto in the 14^th century, Campanile di Giotto is a free-​standing bell tower on the Piazza del Duomo, right next to the Duomo. The tower features Florentine Gothic architecture with hexagonal panels, lozenges, and statues. The hexagonal panels along all sides of the bottom of the tower tell the history of mankind. The panels are very intricate. The west side features Genesis. The south side features astronomy, medicine, hunting, wool-​working, legislation, and flight. The east side features liberal arts (navigation, social justice, agriculture, festivals, and architecture. The north side features painting, grammar, music, poetry, logic, and arithmetic. These hexagonal panels were done by Giotto himself.
When Giotto passed away, Andrea Pisano took over and continued Giotto’s design. Above these panels are the lozenges and these depict the planets, cardinal virtues, liberal arts, and sacraments. On the next level, there are four niches that feature statues.
Finally, the top three levels were completed by Francesco Talenti. These levels have other reliefs, statues, and decorations, as well as the notable large windows. Take time to look at these reliefs and statues; some of them are done by famous artists like Donatello and Andrea Pisano.
The 414 steps to the top of the tower are not for the weak of heart, but the views atop are spectacular. Some say the view is even better than the one from the Duomo. Thankfully, there are plenty of levels where you can rest and catch your breath. These levels also offer views of Florence, so you can see out at different vantage points throughout your hike. Sometimes, the winding stairs can be very tight and you may have to press yourself against the wall or wait to ascend/​descend. Like I said though, the view is breathtaking, looking out at central Florence.
Ticket costs € 10, which includes access to the Duomo, Baptistry and other sites.

Go. At. Night. No lines.

The Campanile (big bell tower beside the Duomo) is definitely a must-​visit in Florence! Access is included with the Firenze Card, but it is worth the wait and climb regardless. Some of the best views in Florence for sure!
It’s quite a climb but gives you a view of the Dome. I visited a couple of years ago and climbed the Bell Tower rather than the Duomo. I wouldn’t recommend doing both unless you’re really keen to burn off some extra pasta. Either provide you with spectacular views of Florence and surrounding hills.

It is 10 Euros for a combined ticket. This includes Brunelleschi’s Dome, the Campanile, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, and the Crypt of Santa Reparata.
Climbing the bell tower is not an easy feat. But it is doable. There are multiple levels so you get various views/​lookout points, which is good since that also means you can take a break/​rest before you go all the way to the top. However, the staircase does get pretty tight at some points so if you’re claustrophobic, you may want to reconsider. If you can handle it though, I would definitely recommend going up. You get great 360 view of Florence — one that you would never be able to catch from the ground.
Tip — make sure you bring water.

Location: Right smack in the center of Florence.
The place: The first thing that I did when I got there was to climb up to the cupola (wear comfortable shoes and bring water — it’s quite a trek!) on an empty stomach. Then I continued up to the lookout on top of the Duomo. As I looked across the way at the bell tower, it occurred to me that I was totally in the wrong place. What I had intended to do was climb the bell tower — so I could SEE the dome. Oi! So I climbed back down, went across the street and climbed the bell tower. It made for great cardio to start my first day off in Florence. The view of both the Duomo and Florence is spectacular! Make sure to go on a sunny day!
Be sure to buy the combo ticket via their official web site — it’s a steal at 10 Euro, and includes the Duomo, Baptistery and Campanile. You skip the lines for all three BUT you will have to line up to get inside the church since it’s free entry.
Also, you don’t need to climb both the Duomo and the bell tower unless you’re a keener. You can just pick one — the view is great from both, but obviously you get to see the Duomo up close and personal if you climb the tower!

You can get some of the most breathtaking views of Florence from the top of Campanile di Giotto (aka: Giotto’s Bell Tower).
Campanile di Giotto is a bell tower located in the Piazza del Duomo that is one of the buildings that make up the Florence Cathedral. There are five levels to the tower and it stands over 277 feet tall. The famous Italian painter and architect, Giotto di Bondone, laid the first stone in 1334, but passed away only three years later after he had completed just the first floor. Andrea da Pontedera, famous for his sculpture work on the panels of the Florence Baptistery, took over the construction in 1343, but passed away 5 years later from the Black Death pandemic. In 1359 the bell tower was finally completed, 25 years after Giotto first started construction, by Tuscan sculptor and architect, Francesco Talenti.
The 414 steps were not easy, but there are 3 spots to take breaks at between steps. I would advise to wear comfortable shoes and to bring a bottle of water because there are no water fountains in the tower. Tickets are 6 Euros or 10 Euros if you purchase the combo ticket online that allows you access into all 5 sites of the Florence Cathedral. Please be aware that buying your ticket in advance does not allow you to skip the line so arrive early to avoid a long wait. The narrow staircases can be a bit claustrophobic in the heat so making the climb in the early morning is much more pleasant. Not only is the line for the bell tower is shorter than the line for the Dome, but the bell tower is fifty fewer steps and you get an amazing view of the Dome instead of the bell tower.

Beautifully done even when combining architecture! Giotto’s Campanile is part of the complex of buildings that make up Florence Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo in Florence, Italy. While your in the area take a walk by or even venture to climb the 400+ stairs

Well worth the 414 steps to the top! If you are able bodied, and moderately fit, you NEED to climb Giotto’s Bell tower. It’s 10 Euros to climb and there are a couple (3 or 4) landings where you can stop and take a break. You will probably be sweating by the time you get to the top, but the view is spectacular! Go early in the morning and on a clear day (don’t forget your camera!), and you will be able to experience a breathtaking view of the city. This was a must-​do on my list for Florence and it was incredibly worth it.

Sunday September 8^th… not sure why, but it was FREE today! I believe its normally 10 euro to hike up this thing.
I think its funny (maybe not the best choice of words) that they keep FOUR ambulances at the bottom in case anyone has a heart attack and needs to get rushed to the hospital… if you’re out of shape, do NOT climb these 400+ steps!

Ein Meisterwerk zu bestaunen von unten, zu besteigen (414 Stufen) und Ausblick zu geniessen.
Wobei, den Ausblick ueber Florenz gibt es auch einfacher woanders. Entweder von der anderen Flussseite oder von den zahlreichen Dachterassen Bars oder Restaurants

Do not climb this tower unless you are in relatively good shape (sooo many stairs!). Also, if you are at all claustrophobic, agoraphobic, anthropophobic, or afraid of heights, you may want to re-​think this climb. There is only one way up and down, and the stairs become very narrow towards the top. You end up passing uncomfortably close to folks going in the opposite direction.
The sections of stairs are pretty long and without landings, but there are a few intermittent platforms where you can stop to catch your breath and look out over the city at varying levels.
Once you get to the top, the bird’s eye view is incredible. I love both looking down at the city (really puts the streets and buildings into perspective!) and up at the dome. That thing is SO HUGE.
I recommend getting there early so you don’t have to share the experience too intimately with tons of sweaty, out of breath strangers… it’s just more pleasant that way!

Fabulous views at every level but be warned the climb is very steep and narrow stone steps make it difficult to get up and down easily. You can rest at each level but the final staircase is very narrow so you have to wait for people to come up and down to take your turn. the view is spectacular of the whole of florence and is well worth the climb but the descent is painful on the thighs the next day! so avoid high shoes and stick to trainers to minimise the pain!

Leute vergesst den Aufstieg zur Kuppel! Besteigt lieber den Campanile! Die Aussichtsplattform ist nur wenige Meter niedriger als die der Kupel Aber die Schlange ist ungleich kürzer! Der Ausblick ist wunderbar. 6, — Euro ist aber eigentlich zu teuer!

I’m a huge sucker for tall views. By far the best was the World Trade Center back when it was still around. The thing is like about this one is that it’s literally 100’s of years old, and it’s all handmade. The stairs are narrow, and it still costs about 6euro for entry, but that’s 2euro cheaper than the Duomo, and it’s not as tall as the Duomo. But the line is… well…there is no line. For us, there was only so much tiem that we had to spend in Florence, and I wasn’t in the mood to spend it waiting in a line as with all of the other places in Italy.
Bring some water with you, it’s a mighty long way up to the top of the tower. As for the comments about it being difficult to take pictures through the cage, you could put a small watermelon through that cage. Just secure your camera and take all the pictures your heart desires.

Se trata del campanario del Duomo de Florencia. Es una torre independiente de la catedral. Mide 82 metros de altura y en conjunto con el duomo y el baptisterio forman un conjunto artístico impresionante en el centro de Florencia. La fachada es de marmol de los mismos colores que el duomo (rojo, verde y blanco), pero en este caso el arquitecto fue Giotto, quien diseñó este impresionante campanario al final de su vida.
Es posible subir a lo alto del campanile, previo pago, pero hay que estar en forma para subir tanta escalera, o tomárselo con calma. Desde lo alto se puede contemplar todo el centro de la ciudad, por lo que es mejor subir en un día despejado, si es posible.