Brunelleschi’s Dome Florence: Everything You Need to Know About the Immense Roof of Florence’s Cathedral
Even after almost six centuries, Brunelleschi‘s achievement continues to captivate and amaze. The Dome of Florence’s Cathedral, designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, is a one-of-a-kind monument that remains unmatched to this day: a structure entirely made of masonry, standing over a hundred meters above the ground, with an outer diameter of about fifty meters. A genius and an innovator, Brunelleschi brought to life a monumental work that caught the attention of none other than Leonardo da Vinci due to its cutting-edge methods and the machinery used in its construction.
brunelleschi’s dome Florence: the story of the great cathedral in florence
Constructing a masterpiece like the Dome during the 1400s initially seemed nearly impossible. The first challenge was the installation of the support structures, called “cèntine,” necessary to uphold the Dome during its construction. Brunelleschi, however, surprised everyone with an audacious plan where these support structures were entirely omitted, as the Dome would “support itself.”
The construction of the Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore was entrusted to the architect and his colleague Ghiberti after a competition held in 1418 yielded no winner. In 1420, Brunelleschi presented a twelve-point plan, gradually outlining the Dome of Florence’s Cathedral through his instructions and potential modifications. There was no definitive plan, only a series of guidelines. He completed the work by 1436, becoming the sole master builder from 1423 onwards, in collaboration with the ever-present supervisor Battista di Franco. In the same year, the Dome was consecrated.
Even after completing the tribune in 1367, the construction of Florence’s Cathedral Dome was recognized as no simple task. Brunelleschi managed to exceed all conceivable expectations. Giorgio Vasari‘s work, “The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects,” dedicates a chapter to him, recounting how he organized the construction site and solved numerous technical challenges daily, drawing inspiration from ancient Roman architecture. Brunelleschi had studied the Pantheon very closely during his brief stay in Rome. He also drew inspiration from the Baptistery of San Giovanni, another marvel of Florentine architecture, and the highly talked-about Oljeitu Mausoleum in Iran.
But how exactly did Brunelleschi construct the Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore? First and foremost, it was crucial to lighten the load so the Dome wouldn’t collapse during construction. The arrangement of bricks in a “fishbone” pattern ensured that the Dome practically supported itself without the need for the omitted support structures, thanks to an innovative aerial scaffold.
Other significant measures were taken to facilitate the work of the labor force, dealing with the largest construction site of its Time. Brunelleschi devised extraordinary contraptions to shield the workers from the elements, set up protections and scaffolding with walls to cover the dizzying heights, and provided taverns for the workers to rest inside the Cathedral and save precious Time that would otherwise be wasted traveling to other refreshment places.
Brunelleschi even ensured the workers were always clear-headed by adding water to their wine during meals. He also facilitated their work by developing what were considered spectacular devices at the Time. A young Leonardo da Vinci illustrated them, but only a few sketches have survived.
Brunelleschi proved himself to be a creative, brilliant man with a remarkable and highly relevant concern for the safety of his workers. There were very few accidents, and only one fatality, during the construction of the monumental Florence Dome, which remains unparalleled in the Old Continent.
The Design of Brunelleschi’s Dome Florence
The terracotta Dome rises from the octagonal drum of the Cathedral and stands against the sky of Florence, almost blending in with the mountains behind it, which Vasari noted to be similar. Due to its unique shape could be described as an octagonal vault rather than a traditional dome. Along with the three apses of Florence’s Cathedral, it forms a distinctive trefoil composition visible from above.
It’s divided into eight segments, clearly visible on the outer shell about a meter and twenty centimeters from the inner surface. Its height is thirty-four meters: combined with the thirteen meters of the drum, twenty-one meters of the lantern, the cross, and the space underneath, the overall height of the monument amounts to around a hundred and sixteen meters. The marble lantern, realized with the collaboration of various Florentine artists and completed by Michelozzo, was also designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in an octagonal form. Unfortunately, the architect passed away shortly after completing his design in 1446, a few months after the start of new works.
Subsequently, around 1468, Verrocchio created the bronze sphere mounted on the lantern. The cross of Florence’s Cathedral, in turn, was added about three years later.
Brunelleschi’s Dome Florence: Revolutionary Frescoes Inspired by Florence’s Baptistery
The frescoes in the Brunelleschi’s dome florence cover an area of three thousand six hundred square meters. Initially, there was a plan to create a mosaic reminiscent of the Baptistery, but Brunelleschi chose to maintain his work’s stability due to the tiles’ added weight. Therefore, frescoes were opted for and commissioned by Giorgio Vasari in 1572 by Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici.
At the time, the influence of the Mannerist movement, to which Vasari was not indifferent, was evident. The great Florentine artist painted the Universal Judgment, spread across eight segments, further divided into six registers, remaining faithful to the Council of Trent decrees in content and arrangement.
Unfortunately, Giorgio Vasari also passed away before seeing his work completed. It was entrusted to Zuccari, supported by Domenico Cresti, one of the many assistants the painter employed to finish the largest fresco conceived. In his will, Vasari specified that he had completed almost the entire work by himself.
Even during the creation of the sacred images adorning the Dome of Florence’s Cathedral, the intervention of Filippo Brunelleschi was necessary. He designed appropriate scaffolding to support the painters, concerned about the terrifying void beneath them and the surrounding environment. Zuccari referred to the overwhelming space beneath the Dome and the colossal dimensions of the surface on which the work was taking shape, highlighting the beauty of his gigantic Lucifer, standing at a remarkable eight meters.
In the second and third registers, you can admire a group of angels and an array of saints and chosen ones, distributed in the first two of the four scenes that divide the eight segments of the Dome, starting from the elders of the Apocalypse. In the third scene, you’ll see three personifications of the seven virtues, the seven beatitudes, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Finally, in the fourth register, you’ll observe one of the deadly sins confined to its infernal domain.
To the east, the Christ in Glory spans two registers, flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist. Following this is a depiction of Faith, Charity, and Hope, followed by the personification of Time, holding an hourglass surrounded by seasons depicted as juvenile figures and the Church. References to the Medici, Giorgio Vasari, Giambologna, and other critical Florentine artists can be found in the fresco alongside Filippo Brunelleschi.
Curiosities and Secrets You Might Not Know About the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore’s Dome
As you can imagine, the main curiosities about the Dome of Florence’s Cathedral concern its ingenious architect, Filippo Brunelleschi, who seemed very protective of his work. Here are some interests in Brunelleschi’s Dome, a construction that still leaves people breathless today.
He decided to take the secret of his magnum opus to the grave: he left no trace of his elaborate plans to posterity. Hence, the construction method of Florence’s Dome remains a mystery yet to be unveiled. Fortunately, apart from Leonardo da Vinci, many architects and inventors drew his machines, which were later used to construct the Cathedral’s lantern after the architect died in 1446.
For designing his machines, Brunelleschi conducted in-depth studies: the cranes inspired by the writings of the Greek mathematician Hero of Alexandria and the Roman architect Vitruvius are particularly emblematic.
During the consecration ceremony of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the music theorist Du Fay composed “Nuper Rosarum Flores,”: a motet containing the architectural proportions of Brunelleschi’s Dome, later considered inaccurate in subsequent studies or related to specific symbols from the Bible’s Apocalypse.
On the drum of the Dome, an incomplete balcony overlooks Via del Proconsolo. Its creator, Baccio d’Agnolo, was deeply offended by a scathing critique from Michelangelo, who referred to his work as “a cage for crickets.” As a result, he decided not to continue.
The seven hundred and fifty tons of the lantern, combined with the additional approximately nineteen hundred kilograms of the bronze sphere, play a vital role in the stability of Florence’s Dome. This matter still sparks passionate debates among architects worldwide. Brunelleschi’s work weighs about twenty-five thousand tons in total.
While strolling towards Via dell’Oriuolo, you can observe a marble slab. At that exact spot in January 1601, Verrocchio’s copper sphere fell onto the street, having been struck by lightning and sent plummeting from the Dome along with a significant portion of the lantern.
Brunelleschi’s dome florence has been called the largest masonry work in the world.
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Brunelleschi’s Dome Florence: Opening Hours and Ticket Prices
At Santa Maria del Fiore, the Dome is part of the Florence Cathedral Complex, as indicated in the article dedicated to the Baptistery of San Giovanni, where you can also find the opening hours and reservation days.
The visit is not recommended for tourists who suffer from:
- Heart or joint problems
- Claustrophobia
- Vertigo
It would help if you climbed a steep ramp of four hundred sixty-three steps to reach the monument.
YOU NEED TO RESERVE YOUR ENTRANCE TIME TO CLIMB UP THE DOME
You must have the Brunelleschi Pass to climb the Duomo: €30 for those over 15, €12 for children between 7 and 14 and free for those under 6. This pass includes all monuments in Piazza del Duomo.
Here are the passes:
- BRUNELLESCHI PASS: This is the all-inclusive pass that includes ALL of the monuments in Piazza del Duomo, including the climb up the Cupola. It is, of course, the most expensive at €30 per person, reduced for kids between 7 and 14 years old to €12 and free to kids under 6 years old.
- GIOTTO PASS: Includes all of the sites EXCEPT for the Cupola. It costs €20 for adults, €7 for ages 7-14 and free under 6.
- GHIBERTI PASS: Includes all of the sites that do not require climbing; that is, it excludes the Bell tower and Cupola. It thus includes the museum, the Baptistery, and the Crypt of Santa Reparata. Cost is €15 for adults, €5 for ages 7-14, and again free to kids under 6.
Opening Hours
Monday-Friday: 8:15am – 7:30pm, last climb at 6:45pm
Saturday: 8:15am – 5:30pm
Sundays 12:45pm – 5:30pm
Closed
New Year’s Day
Epiphany
Easter Sunday
Feast of St. John (24 June)
Feast of the Assumption (15 August)
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (8th September)
All Saints’ Day (1 November)
Immaculate Conception (8th December)
Monday and Tuesday of the first week in Advent
Christmas Day
Boxing Day (26 December)
To make sure hours are available on the day you want to visit, check the official website and purchase your ticket:
How to Reach Brunelleschi’s Dome Florence
You can reach the Dome of Florence’s Cathedral on foot, starting from Santa Maria Novella Station. Like the Baptistery of San Giovanni, you can walk through Piazza della Stazione and reach Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia. Then, cross Via Panzani and, subsequently, Via de’ Cerretani, which will lead you directly to Piazza San Giovanni. At this point, turn onto Via dei Calzaiuoli, and from there, head to Piazza del Duomo, where you will find the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore on the left.
brunelleschi’s dome florence – Map
Piazza del Duomo, 50122 Firenze FI