Booking choice: The David and bell tower tour, from $112 per person. Check dates Tour details
Work on Giotto's Bell Tower began on 9 March 2026. It is the first restoration of the whole tower; earlier campaigns, documented since 1939, only ever dealt with parts of it.
The scaffolding is up, the restorers are working from the top down, and visitors are still climbing. Here is what is being done, what it means for the climb and the view, and how it fits with a dome visit.
The quick answer
Giotto's Bell Tower is open during its restoration, and the Opera says access to the top terrace stays open throughout. An 86 m steel scaffold now covers the outside, and the work moves downward in phases, with restored sections uncovered as it goes. The project costs more than 7 million euros and is expected to run about four to five years. Expect scaffolding and mesh around the top terrace.
Is Giotto's Bell Tower open during the restoration?
Yes. The tower stays open daily from 8:15 (last entry 18:45), and the top terrace remains accessible for the whole project.
The Opera's FAQ puts it plainly: "The Bell Tower is currently undergoing major restoration work. Access to the top terrace remains open throughout the duration of the project." The scaffolding is on the outside, so the 414 interior steps, the three landings and the terrace at the top work as before.
One short exception: a maintenance closure from 9 to 13 November 2026, listed on the opening hours page. Our November closure post shows how to fit it around a dome visit the week after.
What is being restored, and how long will it take?
The marble skin of the whole tower, in white marble, green Verde di Prato and pink Rosso di Cintoia, plus interior spaces. It is expected to take four to five years and cost over 7 million euros.
The Opera's restorers describe an "advanced state of decay": colour changes, black crusts, biological growth and lost pieces of stone, worst on the upper terrace with its corbels and carved elements. The work means cleaning, consolidating with lime and marble-powder mortars, putting loose fragments back and rebuilding missing parts where needed, under the supervision of the state heritage office (Finestre sull'Arte).
The estimate has stretched a little. When work began the Opera spoke of about four years; the report on the finished scaffolding says about five. No public money is involved. Visit Florence notes the project is paid from ticket revenue for the Duomo complex, which brought in 31 million euros in 2025. Your pass is funding it.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Start of work | 9 March 2026 |
| Scaffolding | 86 m, modular steel, about four months to build |
| Tower height | 84.7 m (Opera figure) |
| Expected length | About four to five years |
| Cost | Over 7 million euros, paid by the Opera |
| Earlier restorations | Partial only, documented since 1939 |
What does the scaffolding on the bell tower look like?
A slim steel frame up the full height of the tower, designed to hide as little as possible. As each phase is finished, the scaffolding moves down and the restored marble is uncovered.
The frame was designed by the Opera with the contractors Tecno System Appalti and Layher, and built to follow the tower's uneven geometry without loading it. Samuele Caciagli, head of the Opera's technical office, said the aim was a site that would not upset the tower's structural balance "or hide its beauty" (Finestre sull'Arte, Italian).
It also had to work around a pair of peregrine falcons that nest on the tower. Before the scaffolding went up, 149 holes in the walls were photographed to find nests; one female was found sitting on eggs, the schedule was changed, and three chicks hatched and flew. Bring binoculars and you may spot them over the square.
Does the scaffolding spoil the view from the top?
In places. Scaffolding and mesh frame parts of the terrace, but the view straight across to the dome, the reason most people climb, is still there.
The work starts at the top and moves down, so the terrace level is where the restorers are first. Expect poles and safety mesh at the edges of the terrace, and pick your gap for photos. From there you look straight across at the drum, the red tiles and the lantern, with people moving on the lantern terrace.
The view of the tower from the dome changes more. From the top of the dome you now see a scaffolded tower, which matters if that classic shot is on your list. As the work moves down over the coming years, the top will be the first part you see clean.
Should you climb the dome or the bell tower in 2026?
The dome if you can only do one and can get a slot. The bell tower if the dome is sold out or closed, if you dislike tight spaces, or if you want the dome in your photos.
The Brunelleschi Pass (30 euros) covers both, and its holders do not need a time slot for the tower. The Giotto Pass (20 euros) covers the tower, museum, baptistery and Santa Reparata, with a tower slot but no dome. With both on one pass, do them on different days; 877 steps in an afternoon is a lot.
If the dome is sold out on your dates, the David and bell tower tour is our pick: a guide for Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, then the cathedral complex, with an optional bell tower climb. Our guide to the dome or the bell tower compares the two climbs in detail.
| Dome | Bell tower | |
|---|---|---|
| Steps | 463 | 414 |
| Rest stops | Walkway around the base of the dome | Three landings |
| Tight passages | Yes, between the two shells | Narrow stairs, no squeeze |
| Restoration in 2026 | No | Yes, scaffolding outside |
| Passes | Brunelleschi Pass only (30 euros) | Brunelleschi or Giotto Pass (20 euros) |
| November 2026 closure | 16 to 20 Nov | 9 to 13 Nov |
No dome, on purpose: Michelangelo's David with a guide, then the Duomo complex and the bell tower climb when the dome is sold out.
Explore the David and bell tower tour Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
Can you climb Giotto's Bell Tower during the restoration?
Yes. The Opera keeps the 414 steps and the top terrace open for the whole project. The only planned break in 2026 is a maintenance closure from 9 to 13 November.
How long will the restoration of Giotto's Bell Tower take?
About four to five years from March 2026. The scaffolding comes down in stages from the top as each section is finished.
Is the view from Giotto's Bell Tower blocked by scaffolding?
Partly. Scaffolding and mesh frame the terrace, but you can still see the dome straight across. Look for a gap for photos.
Do I need a time slot for the bell tower?
With a Giotto Pass, yes. With a Brunelleschi Pass, no: you can climb the tower on any of the pass's three days.
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David, Duomo and Giotto's Bell Tower
No dome: David, then the bell tower climb
Duomo Tour with Dome Climb & Terraces
- Guided visit inside the cathedral
- Reserved Brunelleschi's Dome climb (all options)
- Duomo terraces in the Dome & Terraces option
Dome Climb with Duomo Museum Tour
- Guided tour of the Opera del Duomo Museum
- Cathedral visit and the dome climb with your guide
- 72-hour pass for the bell tower and baptistery
