Florence launches €60M heritage plan with Giotto's campanile restoration

Giotto's campanile in Florence will undergo its first comprehensive restoration since the 14th century, with a budget of over €7 million. The 85-meter tower, designed by Giotto in 1334 and completed by Francesco Talenti in 1359, suffers from detached slabs, darkened facades, and microfractures due to pollution, acid rain, and aging. The four-year project will use scaffolding designed to minimize visual impact and gradually reveal restored sections. This is part of a larger €60 million program by the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, funded from its own resources. The Collegio Eugeniano, restored for €13 million, will become the institution's new headquarters this spring, freeing 1,500 m² for residential and commercial spaces. The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo will expand from 6,000 to 11,000 m² by 2030 via acquisition of Palazzo Compagni, with an estimated €39 million investment. Separately, the Ponte Vecchio will undergo cleaning and consolidation of its piles this summer, costing €2 million shared equally by the municipality and the Antinori family. All monuments remain open during works. Luca Bagnoli, president of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, emphasizes a cultural and social responsibility toward built heritage and residents.