The exterior is notable for the geometric patterning of its revetment (face), made from encrusted marble. It mimics the Tuscan Romanesque style of the revetment on the baptistery, which can also be seen on the Florentine church of San Miniato. It should be noted that the facade of the cathedral does not date to the Renaissance, but instead to the nineteenth century. Unlike in countries to the north, facades in Italy were considered to be lesser in importance and were put on at the end – and in this case, several centuries after the rest of the church was already built. We can also see how the revetment was carried over into the campanile (bell tower) which stands next to the cathedral. The campanile, which was designed by Giotto in 1334, was built to look like it came in sections. It is altogether separate from the rest of the church, which was typical in Italy at the time but which was different from the integrated tower-in-facade approach in countries to the north.
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