Florence Duomo or Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore), Florence

The name of the cathedral, "Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore", is literally translated "Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower". Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore, now called the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore or Duomo di Firenze, is among the largest churches in Italy and throughout the world. For a long time, it also had the largest dome in the world. The name "del Fiore" comes from the symbol of the city of Florence - the lily flower, and the old name of the city: Fiorenza. The plan of the church was realized by Arnolfo di Cambio, considered "the father of Florentine architecture", who also designed Basilica Santa Croce and Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. The project of the Dome was completed and approved by the city council in 1294, but the construction of the church began on September 9, 1296. The first stone was laid by Cardinal Valeriana on the site of an older church from the 5th century, the Church of Santa Reparata ("Holy Repaired Church"). The works had continued for several generations, led by the best Florentine architects. The church, in a Gothic style, has three interior naves, the main nave being on the site of the old church. After the death of Arnolfo di Cambio in 1302, construction stopped. After 30 years, in 1331, the Wool Traders Guild of Florence, "Arte della Lana", took over the site of Piazza del Duomo. In 1334, the project submitted by the Florentine painter and architect Giotto di Bondone, for the construction of the bell tower (campanile in Italian) from the facade of the church was approved. He was also hired to continue building the church. Andrea Pisano was his assistant, and after Giotto's death in 1337 he continued his work. After Pisano's death, in 1349, architect Francesco Talenti was appointed architect. He enlarged the church and added the last three levels to the bell tower, completing it in 1359. The construction of the church was continued by other architects: Giovanni di Lapo Ghini between 1360-1369, Alberto Arnoldi, Giovanni d'Ambrogio, Neri di Fioravante and Andrea Orcagna. On August 18, 1418, in order to finish the church and the baptistery, the Wool Traders Guild of Florence ("Arte della Lana") announced a competition for the project, offering a large payment. Two master artists won the competition: Lorenzo Ghiberti for the bronze doors for the Battistero di San Giovanni and Filippo Brunelleschi, supported by Cosimo de Medici, for the construction of the huge dome of the cathedral. The works on the dome of the church took place between 1420-1436. The cathedral was consecrated by Pope Eugene IV on March 25, 1436 (considered in the calendar of the old city of Florence on the first day of the year). It was the largest and first octagonal dome in the world built without a support frame. The model for the huge cupola was the circular dome of the ancient temple dedicated to all the gods, the Pantheon, built with a wooden support skeleton between 117-128 CE in Rome. Of great originality and beauty are the eight round windows from the base of the dome, continued horizontally along the outer walls. The dome has double shells, made of sandstone and marble, and for the construction of the dome were used more than four million bricks, arranged in the form of "fish scales". To raise the building materials Brunelleschi invented a three-speed winch powered by a pair of oxen that turned the pulleys using a cable with a length of 183 meters. The pulley system, weighing over 450 kg, was made to order by shipbuilders. He attached a specially invented device to change the direction of the traction. He also invented other lifting systems with counterweights that are at the base of his crane, which was over 20 meters high and its design remained from drawings by Leonardo da Vinci. Bruneleschi designed the 45-meter wide interior to be paved with mosaic reflecting light on the walls, and the vault covered with gold. His death in 1446 interrupted the grand project. He was buried with honors in the cathedral. The exterior of the dome and the lantern were decorated, according to his project, with colored marble, 10 years after the death of the master. After more than 100 years, through the care of the Grand Duke Cosimo I de Medici, the interior of the dome was painted in frescos between 1568 and 1579, an area of 3600 square meters. Giorgio Vasari and Frederico Zuccari painted biblical scenes starting with the Judgment, the theme also used by Michelangelo Buonarotti for the Sistine Chapel of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. The paintings from the dome in Florence start from the top of the building with the representation of the 24 wise old men from Revelation. Four were finished by Vasari before his death in 1574. Frederico Zuccari, along with the help of other artists, painted the other biblical themes: Virgin Mary and the saints, angels' choirs, gifts of the Holy Spirit, virtues, sins and the hell at the bottom.