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Florence Cathedral  The dome of the cathedral in Florence, Italy, designed and built by the architect Brunelleschi in 1436. It was designed in the style of Roman vaults and is a brick construction for which very little scaffolding was used, as it was important not to disturb the services of the cathedral. | Cathedral (Italian duomo) of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy, begun by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296, and consecrated in 1436, when it was called ‘del Fiore’ (of the flower) either after the name of the city or in reference to the municipal arms, a red lily on a white ground. Its detached campanile (bell tower) was begun by Giotto, and Brunelleschi designed its famous dome. |
| The campanile is 84 m/276 ft high. In front of the duomo is the octagonal baptistery of San Giovanni, the old cathedral (dating from the 5th century; consecrated 1059). |
| Of its three splendid bronze doors one is the work of Andrea Pisano, and the other two, called by Michelangelo in admiration ‘The Gates of Paradise’, are the masterpiece of Lorenzo Ghiberti. |
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