The bell tower of Florence's Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, known as Giotto's Campanile, is set to undergo its first full restoration, due to begin on March 9.

The project will last around four years and cost 7 million euros, said the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, which will cover the entire expense.

The first phase, lasting four months, will involve erecting a scaffold designed to minimise visual impact, preserve the view for visitors and maintain access inside the tower and to its panoramic terrace.

While the monument has undergone several restorations in the past, these have only involved individual sections. A comprehensive intervention has now become necessary to ensure safety due to the extensive deterioration of the exterior surfaces.

The tower, a stone structure entirely clad in marble, rises 85 metres and is climbed via a staircase of 414 steps. Giotto was commissioned to design and begin construction in 1334, though the building was completed only after his death, in 1359.

The exterior is adorned with white, green and red marble, and decorated on its lower levels with sculptures crafted between the 14th and 15th centuries, including works by Donatello, whose originals are now housed in the Museo dell'Opera.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. VARIOUS OF DRONE VIEWS OF GIOTTO'S BELL TOWER IN FLORENCE