The doors were designed and constructed by Lorenzo Ghiberti and his workshop and took 27 years to complete. The building is recognized in popular culture for three sets of doors but mostly the east doors, which are the best. The structure is one of the oldest in Florence, dating back to the late 11th century. This is directly in front of the Florence Cathedral (Il Duomo). It’s so close to the cathedral and has such a similar design that it appears to be the same structure but it’s a church of its own and considered a minor basilica. The Baptistry doors are attached to the Baptistry of St. This technique had never been utilized in dome construction before and to this day is still regarded as a remarkable engineering achievement. He would build two domes-one inside the other. Luckily, Brunelleschi had an idea to solve that. The other important factor is that the design didn’t call for flying buttresses as most Gothic churches had at the time. When he won, Florentines were expecting a top-class architect to cap their beloved Duomo, but instead, they got an artist who works gold. He had no formal training as either an architect or an engineer. Filippo Brunelleschi was a goldsmith and sculptor by trade. To fully appreciate the dome, we have to understand a few things about the architect. To this day, people stare in awe at how something so gigantic could have been built so long ago…and still be intact! The dome, which was the first of its magnitude since the Pantheon, was masterfully built to withstand lightning, earthquakes, and the passage of time. Work on the dome didn’t start for another two years and many thought it impossible, but the Medici family pressed on and Brunelleschi completed it in 1434. The Opera del Duomo ran a competition in 1418, which was won by Filippo Brunelleschi. The idea was to murder both Giuliano and Lorenzo the Great, but they failed to kill Lorenzo and were banished from Florence. On Sunday, April 26, 1478, the Pazzi family attempted to dethrone the Medici from power. One is that it’s completely detached from other buildings so you can walk 360 degrees around it.īy far the most famous moment in this cathedral’s history was the murder of Giuliano dè Medici. It differs greatly from the Basilica of Rome in many ways. Green and white marble brings life to its facade and surfaces. The Duomo was designed in a very Tuscan/Florentine style. The name Santa Maria del Fiore, however, is seldom used in Italy. One could assume that the name refers to the flower and symbol of Florence-the Giglio or Red Lily/Iris. It is named the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, which translates to the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower. The Duomo is in the center and visible from much of the city. The Florence Cathedral is a must-see attraction and it would be very difficult to miss when you’re in town. However, you’ll probably spend about the same amount of time outside the building admiring those famous doors! More on that below. The Baptistery is very small so going inside will be a quick visit and 30 minutes is more than enough time. We do not recommend the dome for people suffering from heart problems, vertigo, or claustrophobia, or for pregnant women. Give yourself at least 1.5 hours to do this climb. When climbing up, you’ll see many a red face huffing and puffing. If you plan on climbing the dome, bear in mind that you will have to conquer 463 steps and there is no elevator. This is why most people are so surprised once they go in and discover the ornate style does not continue on the inside of the cathedral. An important thing to know about Gothic churches is that their exteriors feature the most intricate of art details that exist however, their interiors are not nearly as ornate. The architecture of the cathedral is Gothic in style. On the other hand, if you want to visit more than the site or go to the dome, then you’ll likely need at least 2 hours. For example, if you only want to see the inside of the Cathedral, then I’d say 1 hour is sufficient, maybe even too much. One hour will be enough depending on what you’d like to see.
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