Giotto's bell tower is the bell tower of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence's cathedral, and is located in Piazza del Duomo. Its foundations were dug around 1298 at the beginning of the construction site of the new cathedral, when he was master mason Arnolfo di Cambio. nnThe unusual position of the tower, aligned with the facade reflects the desire to give a great importance as a sign of strong verticality in the center of Insula Episcopalis, probably more than the practical necessity of freeing the view of the apse to the great dome, expected since Arnolfo's design. nnIn 1334 Giotto di Bondone was succeeded in his role as foreman immediately dealing with the construction of the first floor of the tower and losing interest - according to the assertions of a legend - the site of the basilica. nnGiotto gave an original design of the bell tower with a pyramidal spire terminating in 50 Florentine braccia high (about 30 meters), according to which the total elevation would have to be 110-115 meters (the height is present instead of 84.75 meters).
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