Cathedral of Florence (Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore)
History of the Florence Duomo
The Florence Duomo, also known as Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, is in Duomo Square. Its construction began at the end of the 13th century under the design of Arnolfo di Cambio, a famous architect and sculptor who loved the Gothic style.
The Cathedral of Florence is a stunning example of Italian Gothic architecture dedicated to “Santa Maria del Fiore”. It was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio (c1245-1302), who significantly enlarged the existing religious structure. The Cathedral was completed in 1367, except for the unfinished façade, which was only completed in the 19th century. One of the Cathedral’s most iconic features, the Dome, was left unfinished after its frame (polygonal base) was erected in 1421. Two architects, Lorenzo Ghiberti (1368-1445) and Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) competed for the project, but Brunelleschi ultimately built the Dome, demonstrating his technical expertise in 1436.
The Cathedral’s exterior is also adorned with the impressive “Porta della Mandorla” (north) sculpture, featuring a large halo around the figure of the Virgin, sculpted by Nanni di Banco (1380/90-1421) and others.
Visitors can admire significant works of art inside the Cathedral, including detached frescoes of the “Condottiero Giovanni Acuto” and “Niccolò da Tolentino”, painted respectively by Paolo Uccello in 1436 and by Andrea del Castagno in 1456. Paolo Uccello also painted the clock on the inside wall, featuring four vivid “heads of saints”. Many sculptures created for the Cathedral, including the “Lunettes” by Luca della Robbia, can be found in the “Museo dell’Opera del Duomo”. The large “Pietà” by Michelangelo (c. 1553) was removed and transferred to the “Museo dell’Opera del Duomo”.
The Cathedral’s stained glass windows are a sight to behold and were designed by famous artists such as Donatello, Andrea del Castagno, and Paolo Uccello. Brunelleschi and other artists, including Antonio del Pollaiolo, designed the wooden inlays on the Sacristy’s cupboards.
The Dome’s internal walls were frescoed between 1572 and 1579 by Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) and Federico Zuccari (c. 1990-1609), depicting a large scene of the “Final Judgement”.
The bell tower, designed by the renowned painter and architect Giotto, remains one of the most striking views of the town. Although Giotto passed away in 1337, the works continued under the direction of Andrea Pisano (c. 1290-1349) and Francesco Talenti (not. 1325-1369), who completed the project.
The exterior of the Cathedral
Brunelleschi, the genius architect behind Florence Duomo, faced a monumental challenge. He had to construct the world’s largest masonry dome without the benefit of modern mathematical tools and physics knowledge. So, he had to rely on his intuition and the massive scale models he built to accomplish his feat. To do this, Brunelleschi invented hoisting machines and lifting lessons, which enabled him to move more than 37,000 tons of materials, including four million bricks, into position. These machines and structural innovations became his most significant contributions to architecture.
Although Brunelleschi was executing an aesthetic plan created 50 years earlier, his name became synonymous with the dome rather than Neri’s. However, Brunelleschi’s ability to crown the dome with a lantern was disputed. So, he had to compete against his colleagues, Lorenzo Ghiberti and Antonio Ciaccheri, despite having evidence of his prior work on the lantern design.
Brunelleschi emerged as the winner, and his lantern design featured an octagonal shape, eight radiating buttresses, and eight high-arched windows. Construction of the lantern began a few months before he died in 1446, but several architects made changes that delayed the process for 15 years.
Finally, Brunelleschi’s friend Michelozzo completed the lantern in 1461. Verrocchio crowned it with a golden copper ball and cross containing holy relics in 1469, increasing the dome and lantern’s total height to 114.5 meters (376 feet). In 1600, the copper ball was struck by lightning and fell, but it was replaced two years later with an even larger one.
Facade of the Florence Cathedral
The original façade of the Florence Duomo, also known as Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, was started twenty years after Giotto’s death and was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio. It is often attributed to Giotto, but it was the work of several artists, including Andrea Orcagna and Taddeo Gaddi. The façade was left unfinished and dismantled in the 16th century because it was considered outdated. Some original sculptures from the façade are displayed in the Museum Opera del Duomo, while others are in museums in Berlin and Paris.
Attempts were made to build a new façade, but it turned into a corruption scandal, and none of the proposed models was accepted. The façade remained bare until the 19th century when a competition was held to design a new one. Emilio De Fabris won the competition, and his neo-gothic façade in white, green, and red marble was completed in 1887. The whole façade is dedicated to the Mother of Christ and forms a harmonious entity with the rest of the cathedral complex, although some think it is too decorative.
Giotto and Andrea Pisano’s lower-row reliefs on the Campanile
The lower row of the campanile is adorned with relief sculptures depicting the story of the creation of humankind, the emergence of various human occupations, and the Bible’s inventors of creative activities, such as music, metallurgy, and wine-making. In the upper register of the campanile’s façade, we see seven planets starting with Jupiter in the north corner. Other records on the façade show different technical and scientific disciplines like astrology, building, medicine, and weaving
The south façade portrays the theological and cardinal virtues in the upper register, while the east has the liberal arts of Trivium and Quadrivium. The north façade shows the seven sacraments in the upper register. The niches on the façade contain statues of the patriarchs, prophets, kings of Israel, and pagan sybils.
