Santa Maria del Fiore: visiting Florence Cathedral and Brunelleschi’s dome, guide and photos
“Absolute and munificent magnificence, so that the forces and industry of man can never create an equally vast and beautiful enterprise”: we are in 1294 when the council of Florence issued the edict for the construction of the greatest Cathedral that had ever been seen. Reaching Florence, the Duomo, better known as Santa Maria del Fiore, is immediately recognizable thanks to a unique and dazzling scenographic impact.
A grandiose project started in 1294 by Arnolfo di Cambio, who had the task of giving life to a sacred building to be erected on the site where Santa Reparata stood, founded around the seventh century.
Arnolfo di Cambio was unable to see his project concluded, which was continued over the centuries by Giotto first, Francesco Talenti and Ghini then. The Cathedral was consecrated by Pope Eugene IV only in 1436 when the project for the dome by Filippo Brunelleschi was finally completed.
Immense and simple, the Duomo of Florence wanted to be an expression of the greatness of the city: the magnificence of the dimensions, in fact, corresponds to the simplicity of the project which included a vaulted basilica that ended in a polygonal apse with several facades, on which a dome rose. with an enormous octagonal plan, which in terms of size and technique was never built again.
White, pink and green marble are mixed on the facade in geometries that enclose portals and sculptural works capable of involving all the senses: being in front of the Florence Cathedral makes it tangible where the greatness of human work can reach. Yet, despite the decorations, the glow, the splendor of the facade, once you cross the threshold of the Cathedral you have the feeling of being catapulted into the womb of the deepest spirituality: a space that stands out 45 meters high considering the times, but which continues up to 90 meters considering the internal apex of the dome.
The composure and the mystical sense of the interior of the Cathedral do not contrast with the splendid works that you come across while peering into every corner of the Cathedral, starting from the entrance portal, dominated by a clock decorated with the heads of the prophets. The clock shows the Italian hour, that is, it calculates the time by ending the day at sunset. Continuing, the stained glass windows by Ghiberti can be admired, while to the right of the door we can find the tomb of Antonio d’Orso. Continuing to discover the Duomo, and reaching the southern wall, on the right, you will find the statue depicting Brunelleschi, which corresponds to that of Giotto on the left. Always looking to the right along the colonnade, it is possible to come across a very refined holy water stoup, which will also be the reference point for the entrance to the remains of the crypt of Santa Reparata.
The Cathedral houses beautiful paintings, born from the creative genius of Andrea del Castagno, Paolo Uccello and Domenico Michelino, but it is certainly the “Last Judgment” that Vasari painted under the dome the real flagship, a work that will not miss to leave you breathless.
If going down to see the remains of the crypt of Santa Reparata will be an activity that only true lovers of ancient history will appreciate, the visit to the dome is a real sensory experience and reaching the last terrace will offer a unique and unforgettable skyline.
Certainly, the works for the construction of the dome were unprecedented compared to the past, but it was not possible to reproduce them even after the construction works, so much so that the Brunelleschi dome remains a unique work, both in terms of size and method of construction. It has two frames, one internal and one external, while the cladding is made up of beams linked together with the cantilever technique, which allowed the operators of the time to erect a dome capable of standing alone even during its construction. To reach the top you will have to climb 463 steps going around the magnificent frescoes by Vasari.
Reaching the Duomo, a visit to the Baptistery of San Giovanni is also a must, which is, in all likelihood, the oldest building in Florence. In fact, all the children born in the city were baptized, therefore for a very long time, it had symbolic importance, much greater than the building of Arnolfo di Cambio. The origins of the Baptistery are very controversial: some argue that it was built on the remains of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Mars, others instead of that it was built on an ancient Domus. In any case, the result is an incredible structure, especially from a decorative point of view: the interior, in fact, hosts one of the most fascinating mosaics in Europe, a real eye-catcher, capable of striking even the least accustomed to art. . The interior is a succession of columns that mark the walls, except for the Column of San Zanobi, which seems to indicate the exact point where a miracle occurred in 429.
The doors are also incredible from an artistic point of view: those to the north and east were made by Ghiberti, true masterpieces of style, while those to the south, the oldest, were made by Andrea Pisano.
Part of the Duomo complex is also the splendid Giotto’s Campanile, a medieval bell tower, designed by Giotto and adorned by the presence of reliefs made by, among others, Luca della Robbia and Donatello. If the project belonged to Giotto, its realization took place in two phases, the first saw the work entrusted to Andrea Pisano, who built the bell tower up to the first pair of windows, the second to Francesco Talenti who built the other three floors. The result is a much taller tower than was originally established, as it reaches 85 meters. The sculptures that currently occupy the bell tower are just reproductions, while the originals are kept inside the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. The path that takes place inside the bell tower is a journey that starts from original sin until reaching divine grace. Those who decide to climb must be aware that there are 414 steps to climb, but once you reach the top, the spectacle of the red roofs of Florence that stand out at your feet will certainly be an excellent reward.
A journey through art and history that takes place during the visit to the Duomo, the Baptistery and the Florentine bell tower, a journey that will certainly leave its mark in the eyes as well as in the soul.
Curiosity: one of the most curious anecdotes concerns the Porta dei Cornacchini, also known as Porta della Balla, which is flanked by twisted columns. One of them is dominated by a lioness and a putto. It is said that a certain Anselmo every night dreamed of being torn to pieces and killed by a lion very similar to the one next to the door, which Anselmo saw every morning while he went to work. One day he decided to challenge himself and his dream of him and inserted his hand into the lion’s mouth. But inside the mouth there was a scorpion that stung and killed him, giving reason to the premonitory dream.
In short, when you see the lion, don’t challenge him!
Useful information
The entrance to the Great Museum of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore will be closed until October 2015. Admission with a single ticket includes a visit to the Cathedral, the Crypt, the Dome, the Baptistery and the Bell Tower. From October the ticket price will be 15 Euros. Address: Piazza del Duomo, Florence
Visiting hours
- Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore 10: 00-17: 00
- Brunelleschi’s Dome 08: 30-18: 20
- Baptistery of San Giovanni 08: 15-10: 15/11: 15-18: 30
- Giotto’s Bell Tower 08: 15-18: 50
- Crypt of Santa Reparata 10: 00-17:
