Campanile of Florence The illustrious Campanile of Florence was
designed by Italy's first "Renaissance man," Giotto di Bondone
(1267-1337), a short and notoriously ugly character who
pioneered many of the artistic breakthroughs we associate with
the period. Acclaimed by Leonardo da Vinci as the first artist
to "paint what he saw from nature," Giotto was also a brilliant
sculptor and architect, a personal friend of poet Dante, and a
sharp businessman. He was also a likeable fellow. Supremely
confident, talkative, and cheery, he was known in Florence for
his ready wit and repartee. One day, while he was walking with
friends along the Via del Cocomero, a herd of pigs rushed past
and knocked Giotto to the ground. Instead of sending a hail of
Italian curses after the pigs, he dusted himself off and smiled.
"But aren't the pigs right to knock me over?" he said. "Over the
years, I have made thousands of lire by using their bristles in
my paint brushes, but I have never even given them a bowl of
soup in return." On a