The Florentine Duomo

The wonderful Duomo in Florence was planned by Arnolfo di Cambio at the end of the XIII century. Shaped in the Roman style and dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, it represents one of the age's greatest works. It took 140 years to build it; it was finished in 1367, but numerous artists contributed to its realization in the course of time. The façade was finished in the XIX century.

Di Cambio's work was continued by Giotto until 1337; Talenti took over from him in 1357. Brunelleschi realized a magnificent stone dome in 1420. Inside it you can admire some frescos by Vasari and Zuccari. The two sacristies, the marble floor and the frescos by Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno were later added to the Duomo and greatly contributed to its history.

On the doors of the sacristies you can admire Della Robbia's lunettes; in the apse chapel is Michelangelo's Deposition. In the archeological area under the Duomo you can observe Santa Reparata cathedral's remains. The wonderful stained-glass windows were carried out between 1434 and 1445 on the plan of such artists as Donatello and Paolo Uccello.

In 1586 the Grand Duke Francesco de' Medici decided on the realization of a new façade; Di Cambio's numerous sculptures were transferred in the Museo dell'Opera inside the Duomo itself.