The Duomo di Firenze, the Cathedral of Florence, was built between 1296 and 1436. The cathedral is one of the largest in the world. Its imposing dome, attributed to the Florentine architect Filippo Brunelleschi, still dominates the city.
The bell tower of the Cathedral of Florence was originally designed in 1334 by Giotto di Bondone, at the time the official master builder of the city. After Giotto died in 1337 the bell tower was completed first by Andrea Pisano and later by Francesco Talenti. The eighty-five meter high tower was completed in 1359. The colorful facade is clad with green, pink and white Tuscan marble. The relief decorations were created in terra cotta by Andrea Pisano.
The Duomo di Firenze, the Cathedral of Florence, was built between 1296 and 1436. The cathedral is one of the largest in the world. The dome was the world's largest when it was completed in 1436 and still towers over the city. The lantern on top of the dome was added later, in 1461, by Michelozzi Michelozzo. The dome, a marvel of engineering, was designed by Florentine architect Filippo Brunelleschi, who submitted his plans after he went to Rome to study the Pantheon, which long had the world's largest dome. Brunelleschi managed to create the enormous dome without supports thanks to an ingenious design which consisted of an inner shell made of bricks with a herringbone pattern and a horizontal stone chain, which reduced stress and allowed the weight to be evenly distributed. The outer shell supports the roof and protects the inner shell from the elements. Between the two shells is a staircase, which leads visitors to the base of the lantern.
