Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

"The cathedral was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio in the Italian Gothic style and was completely enshrined in beautiful white, red and green marble with geometric figures and stylised flowers similar to the Baptistery which preceded it. The construction of the church began in 1296, with the plan consisting of a triple-nave basilica 153 meters in length, 90 metres wide and 90 meters high, making it one of the largest churches in the world. The name Santa Maria del Fiore translates to ‘Lady of the Flower’ and refers to the name of the city ‘Florentia’ or ‘City of Flowers’ with its symbol of the Florentine lily meaning ‘destined to bloom’. After the completion of the dome the church was consecrated by Pope Eugenio IV in 1436. Access to the main hall within the cathedral is free, but a visit to Brunelleschi’s dome is an absolute must not only for the stunning views across the Florence skyline but also because you can get an astonishing close-up view of one of the greatest paintings in art history which decorates the interior of the dome. Access to the dome is by ticket only and these need to be purchased in advance from their official website. The impressive fresco represents the ‘Last Judgement’ and features around 700 different figures including angels, souls, religious figures, the damned, cherubs, monsters and animals all painted across a 3,600m2 surface. The piece was begun by the Italian Renaissance master Giorgio Vasari in 1572 and completed after his death by Federico Zuccari in 1579. If you look towards the top of the painting, you will see the 24 old men described in the Apocalypse, followed by the seven families of the blessed, divided into people of God, Christian rulers, Doctors of the church, Holy martyrs, Apostles, Bishops and different religious orders. In the lower sections you can identify the seven regions of Hell, reserved for the punishment of the seven deadly sins – lust, sloth, anger, envy, gluttony, greed and pride. Many devils, demons and skeletons can be seen within the piece depicting the underworld. Personally, this is one of the most impressive pieces of art I have been fortunate enough to witness and would highly recommend a visit to the dome as it allows you to walk around a narrow balcony to observe the piece more clearly. Technically you aren’t meant to stop moving whilst on the balcony but there is a little section on your descent from the exterior of the dome where you can pause for a moment or two to really appreciate its vastness. After your visit to the dome your ticket also includes entry to the Bell Tower designed by Giotto, which also offers striking views across Florence from the top. As well as entry to the Baptistry of St. John which hosts some wonderful 13th century mosaic decorations. "

"The Florence Cathedral, also known as Santa Maria del Fiore or Florence Cathedral, is located in Piazza del Duomo in Florence, its construction began at the end of the 13th century with the project of Arnolfo di Cambio, a famous architect and sculptor who loved the Gothic style. The cathedral has a main nave and two side naves plus a rear apse. When Cambio passed away, the construction of the cathedral was postponed and was resumed in 1334 by Giotto who designed the bell tower. However, construction was interrupted again in 1337 with his death. The construction of this magnificent project continued with Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti who completed its construction in 1359. Giotto's Bell Tower is 85 meters high and it is possible to climb to the top through its 414 steps from which you can appreciate a splendid view of Florence. In the mid-14th century, Florentine artists left aside the Gothic style incorporating the Roman style. The cathedral's Gothic air was hidden behind the red marble of Siena, the white of Carrara and the green of Prato. The goldsmith Lorenzo Ghiberti and the sculptor Filippo Brunelleschi had the privilege of finishing the Florence Cathedral. Brunelleschi sculpted the statues for the Cathedral and implemented an innovative project to make the Florentine cathedral the largest of its time. Brunelleschi began with the construction of the project and in 1421, the polygonal base was already completed while the dome was completed 15 years later. The red dome of the cathedral was then the largest in the world, with 45 meters in diameter and 100 meters high and soon became the symbol of Florence. The facade of the Cathedral was destroyed at the end of the 16th century and Emilio de Fabris redesigned it making some changes and incorporating marble in different colors."

"Florence’s most famous landmark, the Florence Cathedral, also known as the Duomo. Its massive red-tiled dome, designed by Brunelleschi, dominates the city’s skyline and is a masterpiece of engineering and design. Take a tour inside to admire the stunning frescoes by Vasari that cover the interior of the dome, or for a truly unforgettable experience, climb to the top of the dome itself (463 steps!) for panoramic views of Florence and the Tuscan countryside. Don’t miss the adjacent Giotto’s Campanile (bell tower), where another climb rewards you with a different but equally impressive vantage point. Finally, visit the Baptistery of St. John, famous for its Gates of Paradise, golden bronze doors that depict scenes from the Bible."