Giotto di Bondone was named Master of the Works of the Cathedral in 1334, and the first stone was laid on July 19, 1334. He died in 1337 having finished only the lower floor. Andrea Pisano followed his design from 1343, added a lozenge-decorated band and two more levels, and work halted in 1348. Francesco Talenti completed the tower in 1359 but did not build Giotto's planned spire.
The Florentine Gothic tower has a square plan 47 feet (14.45 m) on a side and is 278 feet (84.7 m) tall. Its surface is polychrome marble in geometric patterns, white from Carrara, green from Prato and red from Siena. Climbing to the top takes 414 steps.
Relief panels and lozenges show planets, virtues, liberal arts and sacraments. The originals were removed between 1965 and 1967. All works now on the tower are copies, and the originals are in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.
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