Not only is it known for its size and beauty it also has hundreds of years of history and its dome is a major architectural masterpiece ahead of its time.
Santa maria del fiore roof.
Learn some of the history with these interesting facts about the cathedral.
The cathedral named in honor of santa maria del fiore is a vast gothic structure built on the site of the 7th century church of santa reparata the remains of which can be seen in the crypt.
Cattedrale di santa maria del fiore santa maria del fiore was built on the site of florence s second cathedral dedicated to saint reparata.
The first was the basilica di san lorenzo di firenze the first building of which was consecrated as a church in 393 by st.
Duomo cattedrale di santa maria del fiore.
The precision of the santa maria del fiore cathedral s famous dome would be difficult to re create today even with modern laser levels gps positioning devices and specialized software.
Interior of santa maria del fiore florence.
This work begun in the summer 1420 was completed except for the lantern in 1436.
The cathedral of florence was consecrated by pope eugene iv on 25 march 1436.
Florence s cathedral stands tall over the city with its magnificent renaissance dome designed by filippo brunelleschi with the baptistery right across.
Duomo cattedrale di santa maria del fiore.
History of the cathedral of santa maria del fiore santa reparata cathedral once stood in the place of this magnificent structure which was eventually built on top of the 4th century remains.
Flying buttresses were also called for in the original plan but they were later scrapped.
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Inside the original plan originally called for a timber truss roof but in the mid 1300s this was changed to a ribbed groin vault.
The competition that the opera di santa maria del fiore ran in 1418 was won by brunelleschi but work did not get under way until two years later and was not completed until 1434.
The dome has a diameter of 45 5 metres.
The dome of santa maria del fiore one of the most significant architectural achievements of the entire renaissance was undoubtedly the construction by filippo brunelleschi of the dome over the florence cathedral.