Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is a cathedral church located in Florence, Italy. Also known as the Florence Cathedral, it is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence. The basilica is considered as one of Italy’s largest churches. The church’s dome is also considered as the world’s largest brick dome ever constructed.

Florence Cathedral History

The cathedral was built on a site where an earlier church stood dedicated to Santa Reparata. Since the old building is already crumbling and can no longer accommodate a growing church going population in the city, a new and bigger cathedral was planned.

A new church was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio and approved by the city council in 1294. the first stone was laid in 1296. The church project construction was expected to take around 170 years to complete due to its vastness. Subsequent architects took over the construction and design of the cathedral over the years. The Cathedral was eventually finished around 1887.

Florence Cathedral Features

The cathedral design primarily followed a Gothic architectural style. But its long period of construction led to added influences over time. The church facade followed a Gothic Revival style. One notable change was the construction of the cathedral dome, which broke away from the traditional Medieval Gothic style. The dome is considered following a classic Mediterranean style. Made out of brick, the dome is considered as the largest brick dome in the world.
