The Florence Duomo
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower is one of the most famous monuments in Florence. It is dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, and it is considered the third largest church in the world. Located in the heart of Florence, at Piazza Duomo, it's truly a spectacular sight to behold.
An architectural masterpiece that took 140 years to build
Duomo di Firenze, as it is ordinarily called, was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to the design of Arnolfo di Cambio and completed structurally in 1436 with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi.
The other architects who worked on the project included Francesco Talenti, Giotto and Andrea Pisano. The different architectural styles that were used to build it include Medieval, Renaissance and Gothic.
Filippo Brunelleschi’s dome
The dome of basilica was the largest in the world until the development of new structural materials. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed. Filippo Brunelleschi with Lorenzo Ghiberti won a competition to design it. Its structure is a double shell supported by sturdy pillars. The octagonal shape of the dome is definitely inspired by that of the Baptistry. The dome of the Duomo was built without using scaffolding; instead, workers were lifted up into the framework of the dome as they built it.
A true Renaissance epitome
The magnificent facade and interior of the cathedral are decorated with statues, columns and mosaics, including a mosaic reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" in the refectory of the adjacent monastery.
The entire exterior was originally designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, but many additions and changes have been made over the centuries. The Gothic-style bell tower is topped by a dome and has 414 steps to the top. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white.
The Duomo of Florence is not only an outstanding example of Renaissance architecture but also a great example of harmonious proportions, which have inspired many other artists and architects over the centuries.
