Facts About Florence Cathedral

Florence Cathedral Italy: The City's Most Iconic Landmark

The structure, and in particular its red tiled Dome and the pink, green and white of its façade is Florence’s most dominant landmark.

Florence itself is a memorable city for anyone on an Italian vacation. The urban landscape has not changed since the medieval times – the streets are narrow and atmospheric, and Florence Cathedral completes the package perfectly.

When Was the Florence Cathedral Built? 

The story about Florence Cathedral goes that Florence was unhappy with having a small cathedral that was unsuitable for the size of its congregation, while its urban neighbours Pisa and Siena were undertaking reconstruction projects of their cathedrals. Construction began in 1296 when the first stone was laid, and the structure took over 140 years to complete, reaching completion in 1496. However, the façade remained unfinished until the 19th Century.

Who Built the Florence Cathedral?

The cathedral was built through the efforts of several master builders across different periods. The initial construction was overseen by Arnolfo di Cambio, who was hired in 1294 to design the cathedral. The most famous contribution came from Filippo Brunelleschi, who built the cathedral's iconic dome between 1420 and 1436 – creating one of the most impressive pieces of architecture from the Renaissance period. A statue of Brunelleschi now sits outside in the Piazza del Duomo, looking up at his masterwork. The final touch to the cathedral came much later, as the façade was completed in the 19th century.

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Who Designed the Florence Cathedral? 

The cathedral's design was a collaborative effort spanning centuries. The original design came from Arnolfo di Cambio in 1294, who laid out the initial plans for the cathedral. Later, Filippo Brunelleschi made his mark by designing and engineering the revolutionary dome structure. The final piece of the design puzzle came in the 19th century when Emilio de Fabris won the competition to design the façade, creating the striking exterior we see today with its distinctive white, green, and pink marble pattern.

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Facts about Il Duomo in Florence: Interior Treasures and Hidden Gems

The interior of Florence Cathedral is quite a contrast to the exterior. It does preserve many important works of art but some of the sculptures that were created for the Florence Cathedral have since been moved to the Museo Dell’Opera dell Duomo. As a result, it seems much more empty when you compare it to the opulent design of the outside of the building.

One of the earliest works of art inside Florence Cathedral is Gaddi’s mosaic of the Enthronement of Mary that is above the inside of the main door. The frescoes in the inside of the Dome are particularly colourful – designed by Vasari and painted by his student Zuccarri. They do have a reputation of being less than good because his student painted them. But recent renovations have really brought out the colour of the work, if not the technique.

The Engineering Marvel of Florence Cathedral's Dome

If you visit Florence Cathedral during your Italian vacation, you can also climb the dome of Florence Cathedral. It is wonderful to get close to the impressive structure which was quite genius in its design at that time. Whilst you are up here surveying Brunelleschi’s Florence Duomo, you can reflect on the fact that no one else but him seemed to be able to think of a way to fill the 150 ft wide space for a dome. It was a problem that worried the authorities in the city but he managed to solve it taking inspiration from the Pantheon in Rome. You will also get a fabulous view of the city of Florence, also.