Giotto was born in Colle di Vespignano, near to Vicchio in Mugello; his father Bondone was an agriculturer. His name could be derived by abbreviation from Angiolotto, Ambrogiotto, Parigiotto or Ruggierotto.

He spends his long apprenticeship in the workshop of Cimabue. It is assumed that he made here sketches for the mosaics in the Baptistry in Florence.

He married Ciuta (Ricevuta) di Lapo del Pela. They had four sons and four daughters from this marriage. The childrens: Caterina who married the painter Ricco di Lapo and became the forebear the painter with the by-name Giottino; Chiara, married in 1326; Lucia, married in the vicinity of Mugello, Bice, a Franciscan nun in the cloister of Santa Maria Novella; Francesco, who came of age in 1318 and later became the prior the church of San Martino at Collo and the trustee of his father's assets; another Francesco who was a painter; Bondone, called also Donato and Niccolo.

This was the first period spent at Assisi working in the Upper Church (Biblical scenes). Probably he travelled several times to Rome where he became acquainted with the works of Pietro Cavallini and Arnolfo Cambio.

Commissioned by the Franciscan General Giovanni di Muro he executed the Legend of Saint Francis in the Upper Church of San Francesco at Assisi.

He painted the frescoes in the Loggia of the San Giovanni Laterano in Rome representing Pope Boniface VIII. (Only a fragment survived.)

He travelled to Ravenna then to Rimini where he painted the frescoes in San Francesco (presently Tempio Malatestiano). The frescoes are lost.

He was in Padua for the invitation of the gray friars where he painted the frescoes in the church of Saint Anthony (lost) and the fresco cycle in the Arena Chapel (Cappella Scrovegni). According to the (non-documented) tradition Dante visited him in the chapel.

He executed the mosaic Navicella ("Ship of the Church") in the San Pietro in Rome.

According to several documents of financial nature he stayed in Florence.

He travelled to Padua again and executed the frescoes in the Palazzo della Ragione (lost).

This is the probable period for painting the frescoes in the Santa Croce in Florence (Peruzzi and Bardi Chapels), as well as the lost frescoes in two other chapels).

He is admitted to the Guild of Doctors and Apothecaries together with Taddeo and Bernardo Gaddi. This is the first time that the Guild admitted painters.

According to several documents he was in Naples in the court of Anjou Robert. All works executed in Naples are lost.

He was appointed to be the "master and governor" of the Opera di Santa Reparata, the later Cathedral, as well as the city walls and fortification. He laid the foundation of the Bell Tower (Campanile) named after him since then in spite of the fact that the existing tower was built on different plans.

He was probably in Milan in the service of Prince Azzoni Visconti. The frescoes painted here are all lost.

He died in Florence on the 8th January and was buried in the Santa Reparata with great honours.