Awe-inspiring Florentine Views From Giotto's Campanile

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 Colette Fitzpatrick

Florence's Duomo and its museums are an important attraction for any culture or art-lovers visiting the city and Giotto's bell tower is one of the four principal monuments on the Piazza del Duomo.

At 84.7 metres tall and executed in the most eloquent example of 14th century Gothic architecture in Florence, it is both beautiful and offers beautiful views across the city. While the trek to the very top is a little grueling and not recommended for those with heart conditions or claustrophobia, it is well worth the effort. Once you reach the top, you'll be rewarded with sweeping views over the other landmarks of the city, its colourful rooftops and the bustling tourist crowds far below.

Just find a luxury villa in Florence and you can embark on this extraordinary adventure for yourself.

Considered to be the most beautiful campanile, or bell tower, in Italy, it was begun by Early Renaissance master artist and architect Giotto in 1334 and, while it has housed many bells over the centuries, its design probably put aesthetics over functional purposes. Dressed in white, red and green marble, according to the colour scheme of the Duomo next door, it is executed in a rich decorative scheme of hexagonal panels, which form a kind of figurative narrative carved by Andrea Pisano and Luca della Robbia. As Giotto died in 1337, his original design had to be finished by others. The reliefs begin with the Creation of Man and continue with a depiction of his Activities, the Planets which regulate the course of his existence, the Virtues which fortify him, the Liberal Arts which educate him and the Sacraments which sanctify him. The statues are another beautiful element of the decorative scheme and were contributed by artists such as Nanni di Banco. Today the originals are all kept in the Opera Museum for conservation purposes and copies adorn the exterior of the tower.

If you can't quite make it to Tuscany just yet, however, you need not worry as the video game, “Assassin's Creed II” allows players, as the eponymous assassin, to climb the exterior of the building and perch on top.

The graphics of the game are stunning and give a great taste of what to expect from the real thing. In fact, it's so convincing that the experience is a little stomach-churning! It is hard to beat the real experience though; it has to be seen to be truly understood. Francesco Talenti, who completed the building in 1359, was a talented builder who designed the large windows in the upper levels of the tower and created a magic feeling of airy lightness lent by the two-light windows in the Sienese style and the large three-light windows. They frame the views beautifully and the space feels atmospheric and dizzying. It well and truly is the perfect place to take in the majesty of Florence.