If you happen to take an aerial tour of the city of Florence, it won’t be long before you notice the Cathedral. Out of the sea of red-thatched roofs it rises, an island onto itself. Designed by Arnolfo di Cambio sometime in the late 13th or early 14th century and dedicated to “Santa Maria del Fiore,” its grandeur was meant to evoke that of God — as well well as the smallness of men within it. And the grandest of the grand in the complex of buildings that make up the Cathedral is without a doubt the elegant bell tower.

On this day, July 18th, in 1334, the foundation stone was laid for the campanile of the Florence Cathedral. The original building plans did not include one, but Giotto di Bondone, a renowned designer even before he took over the work, decided to focus all his energies in correcting that oversight.

Although Bondone was only able to complete the lower story of the structure, it was still a marvel to behold: white marble from Carrara, green marble from Prato and red marble from Siena, arranged in geometric patterns, with bas-relief sculptures, seven on each sides. The repeating patterns, along with the striking colors make for an impression hard to forget.