The Cathedral of Florence, officially known as Cattedrale Santa Maria del Fiore but better known as the Duomo, is the main church of Florence, Italy.
The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore in English "Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flowers"
It is typical Italian Gothic building.
The cathedral was built on the site of the seventh century church of Santa Reparata, the remains of which can be seen in the crypt.
The new cathedral symbolized Florence 's growing importance and was to be significantly larger than its predecessor.
It was designed to be the world 's largest Catholic church.
The cathedral was begun at the end of the thirteenth century by Arnolfo di Cambio, and the dome, which dominates the exterior, was added in the
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The Gothic interior is vast and gives an empty impression. The relative bareness of the church corresponds with the austerity of religious life, as preached by Girolamo Savonarola.
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Most of the splendid stained glass windows were made between 1434 and 1455 to the designs of famous artists like Donatello, Andrea del Castagno and Paolo Uccello. The wooden inlays on the Sacristy 's cupboards were designed by Brunelleschi and by other artists, including Antonio del Pollaiolo.
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The bell tower of Santa Maria del Fiore is 84.7 meters (277.8 feet) in height and about 15 meters (49 feet) wide, it is the most eloquent testimony of fourteenth-century Florentine Gothic architecture which, though with a vertical momentum, does not abandon the principle of solidity. It was begun by Giotto in 1334, carried on after his death by Andrea
Pisano, and finished in 1359 by Francesco Talenti, who created the large windows at the upper levels.
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The many sculptures made specifically for the cathedral (many of which have now been moved to the Museo dell 'Opera del Duomo) comprise also the Lunettes by Luca della Robbia above the doors of the Mass Sacristies. The large
Pieta by Michelangelo (c.1553) has instead been removed and transferred to the Museo dell 'Opera del