Giotto's Campanile: 414 steps, opening hours and which ticket you need

Giotto's Campanile stands in the center of Florence, next to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

The bell tower is visible from almost anywhere in the historic center. But not every tourist decides to climb to the top, because you have to walk up a narrow staircase.

The tower is included in the combined ticket for the Duomo complex, and one pass covers the campanile, the baptistery, the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, and the crypt of Santa Reparata. The observation deck is open daily, and access to the climb is by timed entry slots. Below we'll look at the history of the structure, the opening hours of all the Piazza del Duomo sites, and ticket prices.

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What Giotto's Campanile is

💡 In short:

• The tower is included in the combined ticket for the Duomo complex; there is no separate ticket for it alone.
• The climb is on foot up a narrow staircase; there is no elevator inside.
• The observation deck is open daily, except December 25, January 1, and Easter Sunday.
• Prices and opening hours verified (as of 09/2026, official Opera del Duomo website)

© Ввласенко · CC BY-SAPhoto: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

A campanile is a bell tower that stands separately from the church itself. Its base is square or circular, and as a building type it appeared in the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is also a campanile, but that word is almost never used in connection with it.

Giotto's Campanile is the freestanding bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It stands on Piazza del Duomo in the very center of the city, a few steps from Brunelleschi's dome and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. For Florence, it is one of the main vertical accents in the skyline of the center.

Construction history: from Cambio to Talenti

The bell tower was conceived and construction began back in the late 13th century. It was meant to complement the Catholic cathedral, which was only being built in those years. The first design was prepared by Arnolfo di Cambio, the architect of the cathedral itself. He died soon after, and without his leadership the construction stalled. For more than thirty years the tower stood in a barely started state.

In 1334 another master took on the project, Giotto di Bondone. It is his name that became attached to the bell tower. By that time Giotto was almost seventy years old, and he had the basilica of Santa Croce and other buildings in Florence behind him. The first stone was laid in the summer of 1334, and construction proceeded quickly (according to English Wikipedia).

Contemporaries called Giotto's design unusual for its time. To make the tower look light, the master used several techniques at once: polychromy, that is, multicolor, chiaroscuro with a transition from dark to light, and perspective in the relationship of volumes. Giotto's design called for a height of about 122 meters, but these plans were not destined to be fully realized.

In 1337 Giotto died, and only the first level was complete. On three sides it featured elegant bas-reliefs. Who exactly carved them is still not known for certain: possibly Giotto himself, or possibly one of his assistants.

Pisano's work

The third architect to take on the bell tower was Andrea Pisano. He treated his predecessor's drawings with respect and carried out the work strictly according to Giotto's plan. Under his direction the second and third levels were built and tall windows were cut.

The construction again lasted only five years. In 1348 an epidemic of bubonic plague began in Florence, which was then called the Black Death. Pisano died during the pandemic, and many workers died with him. Work on the tower stopped again.

Architect Talenti's contribution

The fourth and final master was Francesco Talenti. He built the fourth, fifth, and sixth levels and completed the work in 1359. The cladding was made of three types of marble: white Carrara, red Pistoia, and green Prato.

Talenti departed from Giotto's drawings in one important point: he did not place a spire on the tower. Because of this, the final height was 84.7 meters instead of the planned 122 meters (according to English Wikipedia).

It was under Talenti that the long and narrow staircase to the top was cut. It has 414 steps, and it is not spiral, as is often assumed. The climb is therefore steep and rather tiring.

Architecture: three types of marble and 16 statues

Architecturally, Giotto's Campanile is an example of Florentine Gothic. Each level reads as a separate work, not as part of a blank wall. The bas-reliefs of the first level carry an almost biblical meaning: here are the creation of man, human virtues, crafts, sciences, and arts.

On the second level stand 16 statues by Andrea Pisano, Nino Pisano, Donatello, and Nanni di Bartolo. Today the originals have been removed and moved to the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, and exact copies have been placed on the bell tower. The third level is empty, and the three upper levels feature tall pointed windows with molding and tracery.

Each successive level is taller than the previous one. Because of this, the tower seems to reach upward, although it is built of heavy stone slabs. The white, red, and green marble forms a pattern that is visible from Piazza del Duomo from any side.

Observation deck: a panorama of the dome

The campanile's observation deck is multi-level, and you can view the city from different heights. Each level has windows you can approach. The fullest view opens from the sixth level, where the bell hangs.

The same Talenti staircase leads to the top, and in places it is narrow. But from the upper level Florence is visible from horizon to horizon: red tiled roofs, winding streets, churches, and green hills.

© Zairon · CC BYPhoto: Zairon, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The nearby landmarks are also clearly visible from the deck. From here Brunelleschi's dome on the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore can be seen in every detail. Below, the squat Baptistery of San Giovanni with its pyramidal roof is discernible. For convenience, there are stationary binoculars on the observation deck, and thin mesh screens are stretched across dangerous openings.

• Who it's for: if you want to see the cathedral dome from above but are not ready to stand in line to climb the dome itself.
• Not for: if you have knee or breathing problems, the climb up the narrow staircase will be difficult.
• The catch: due to restoration work, part of the view at the top may be blocked by scaffolding (as of 09/2026, confirmation on the Opera del Duomo website).

Why the campanile holds the Florence skyline together

Giotto's Campanile is among the oldest landmarks in Florence. It preserves the work of several masters: architects, sculptors, and artists.

Piazza del Duomo, of which the bell tower is part of the ensemble, is among the most visited squares in the world. Remove the campanile, and the skyline of Florence becomes completely different.

© Chabe01 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Chabe01, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Opening hours and ticket prices

Giotto's Campanile is open every day except December 25, January 1, and Easter Sunday. The viewing terrace is open from 8:15 AM to 6:45 PM, with timed entry slots. The Baptistery stays open longer, the museum is closed on the first Tuesday of each month, and the cathedral is open only until 3:45 PM.

The main rule concerns tickets: there is no separate ticket for the bell tower alone. You need one of three combined passes for the Duomo complex, and all of them are valid for three calendar days.

Prices and pass contents verified (as of 09/2026, official Opera del Duomo website). Giotto Pass holders can enter the bell tower only during their selected time slot, while Brunelleschi Pass holders can climb at any time within the three-day validity period (as of 09/2026, official hours).

Below is a table of opening hours for all sites on the square. Use it as a reference so you don't arrive to find closed doors.

Opening hours verified (as of 09/2026, official Opera del Duomo website). The Campanile is closed for maintenance from November 9 to 13, 2026, and restoration work is currently underway on the tower. The upper terrace remains open, but the view may be partially obstructed.

The complex also has a free luggage storage at Piazza del Duomo, 38/R. Bags are to be left there before entering any of the sites. If you want to climb the cathedral dome, book a ticket with a reserved time slot online in advance.

If you want to compare options ahead of time, here is a selection of tickets by site within the complex. Duomo tickets with dome climb are booked online because dome slots sell out quickly.

What to see nearby: tickets in Florence

Florence is compact, and from the Campanile you can walk to the main museums. If you're short on time, book a time slot in advance: lines for David and the Uffizi are long in summer.

• Galleria dell'Accademia tickets on GetYourGuide with timed entry and Michelangelo's David.
• Priority entry to the Uffizi Gallery with a guide for those who want to skip the general line.
• Palazzo Vecchio entry ticket near Piazza della Signoria.
• Museo Leonardo da Vinci ticket for those traveling with kids.

Where it is and how to get there

Giotto's Campanile stands on Piazza del Duomo, in the historic center of Florence. It is part of the same ensemble as the cathedral, the Baptistery, and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.

If you arrive by train, walk from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station toward the cathedral. It's about 800 meters, roughly a 10-minute walk (on the map). Buses run to stops around the square, but in the center almost everything is walkable.

The landmark is simple: as soon as you see the cathedral dome, the bell tower stands right next to it. In the historic center of Florence, it is visible from any point.

Giotto's Campanile on the map

Below is an interactive map with a pin at the bell tower. Zoom in to see the entrance to the viewing terrace and the exit onto Piazza del Duomo.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How many steps are there on Giotto's Campanile and is there an elevator?

There are 414 steps to the top, and there is no elevator inside. The staircase is not spiral, so the climb goes straight up and feels steep. Allow 20-30 minutes to go up without rushing and catch your breath on the upper levels. Part of the route is narrow, so when there is a flow of tourists you will have to let people coming the other way pass.

Can I buy a ticket just for the bell tower?

No, there is no separate ticket for the Campanile alone. You need one of three passes for the Duomo complex: Giotto Pass, Brunelleschi Pass, or Ghiberti Pass. Each pass is valid for three calendar days and gives you one entry to each site in the complex.

How much does the climb cost and what is included in the ticket?

The most affordable option for the bell tower is the Giotto Pass for 20 €, which includes the tower, the Baptistery, the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, and Santa Reparata. The Brunelleschi Pass for 30 € adds the dome, while the Ghiberti Pass for 15 € does not cover the bell tower (as of 09/2026, official Opera del Duomo website).

What is the best time to go up?

Take morning slots right after opening or evening slots closer to closing. During the day there are more people on the viewing platform and on the stairs, and in summer the heat adds to it. The tower closes at 18:45, check the last slot time when buying your ticket (as of 09/2026, official Opera del Duomo website).

In short: what is worth booking

Giotto's Campanile is not a separate attraction, but part of the Duomo complex. If you want to see the cathedral dome from above but are not ready to stand in line for the dome itself, climb the bell tower. If you want the dome too, get the Brunelleschi Pass: it costs more, but it covers everything at once.

If you have one day in the city, a ticket for the Duomo complex and a climb time slot will be enough. If you have two or three days, add the Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell'Accademia: both museums are close by, and the route works well on foot.

See Florence tickets on GetYourGuide