Florence Cathedral

The cathedral’s dome is the largest brick dome that was ever constructed and marks an important turning point in European architecture, away from the medieval Gothic style and into the new Renaissance era. The structure was completed in 1436 and Its façade was completed 500 years after the main building was completed. Brunelleschi’s dome wasn’t just the largest dome in the world for a very long period, but that it remains the largest brick dome to be ever built in history.

To ensure the dome would sustain its weight, he studied the dome of the Pantheon in Rome extensively, together with Donatello, the famous sculptor. Brunelleschi decided not to use the Medieval Gothic style which included buttresses to support the dome, but return to the ancient method of constructing a dome, but had to be creative to make it work. That’s why he integrated 4 horizontal stone and iron chains in the interior of the octagonal dome to ensure it wouldn’t collapse under its weight.

Brunelleschi also built the copula which sits on top of the dome. The final decoration was a copper ball and cross which contained holy relics and which was put on top of this copula. the ball was made by Leonardo da Vinci's teacher, Andrea del Verrocchio in 1469 and it brought the height of the cathedral to 376 feet.

The construction of this dome turned out to become one of the first major projects in Renaissance architecture.

Florence Cathedral is located in the birthplace of the Renaissance and has an extensive history of innovation in art and architecture. It’s one of the biggest churches in Italy and is one of the most remarkable landmarks in the city, mainly because of its massive dome.

It was built on the site of a 5th Century church that was falling down. In 1294, the commission for the new design of the Florence Cathedral was given to Arnolfo di Cambio, an Italian sculptor, and architect. He is the one who made the design of 3 wide naves which end beneath an octagonal dome. Groundbreaking happened in 1296.  dri Cambio died in 1302 and Giotto was appointed as the new architect. Completion of the Cathefra was delayed by The Black Death but a lot of the cathedral was finished in the second half of the 14th century, including the Campanile, an enlarged version of the apse, and the side chapels of the cathedral.

An architectural competition was held in the early 15th century which became the culmination of the rivalry between two famous artists and master goldsmiths. It all started when Lorenzo Ghiberti was awarded a commission of two bronze doors in the cathedral’s baptistery in 1401, doors that would later be referred to as the “Gates Of Paradise” by Michelangelo.

Filippo Brunelleschi got his revenge nearly 2 decades later when his design for the cathedral’s dome was chosen as the winner of the competition over Ghiberti’s.