The Wonderful Journey in the Florence Cathedral

Hello little explorers! Are you ready for an adventure in the heart of Florence? Today we will visit a truly special place: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, which everyone simply calls the Florence Cathedral. Put your backpack on... we're off on a journey through art, history, and wonders!

Welcome to Florence!

The Florence Cathedral, also known as Santa Maria del Fiore, is the most important church in the city and is renowned worldwide for its beauty. Imagine this: it is so special that UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site! This church was built a long time ago, starting in 1296, on the same site where a much older church once stood. It took many years to complete: construction finished in 1436. The Duomo is enormous: it is 160 meters long (longer than a football field!) and its great dome reaches 100 meters in height. But it's not just large; it is also a symbol of the city. Its name evokes the "lily," the flower that represents Florence. Today we will explore this extraordinary monument together, one that tells many stories about art, faith, and power... just waiting to be discovered!

A Facade That Leaves You Breathless

Our visit to the Florence Cathedral begins with the façade, which is the front part of the church. Although the Cathedral is very old, the façade is more recent: it was completed between 1871 and 1887, more than 500 years after the construction began! The architect who designed it was named Emilio De Fabris, and he chose a style reminiscent of the Middle Ages, but with modern touches from the 19th century. It is full of colors: there are white, green, and red marbles that create beautiful patterns. At the center, there's an enormous rose window (a round window shaped like a flower), and below it, there are three large doors decorated with mosaics and statues. If you look closely, you can see saints, angels, and figures from the Bible carved in stone. Imagine that the first façade, planned in the 13th century, was never completed and was even dismantled! The one we see today is the result of many ideas and changes. A sort of historical puzzle that connects the past and the present!

Inside the Cathedral: A World to Explore

Now let's step inside the Duomo. The three large naves converge beneath the enormous dome, which almost seems to touch the sky! Even though the exterior of the church is lavishly decorated, the interior is much simpler, but this simplicity makes it even more striking. The towering columns resemble stone trees that draw the eye upward, and the floor is adorned with designs made of colorful marble. There are also a few tombs, monuments, and decorations that tell us stories of people who lived many centuries ago. During important celebrations, such as Easter, the church would fill with Florentines: the wealthy would sit in the front near the altar, while the poorer people stood at the sides. Thus, the Duomo was not only a place of worship but also the heart of the city's life. Are you ready to walk through its naves and uncover all its secrets?

Giotto's Bell Tower: A Colorful Tower

Near the Florence Cathedral, there is a very tall and beautiful tower known as Giotto's Campanile. It stands approximately 85 meters high, which is taller than a 25-story building! It is adorned with white, green, and pink marble, just like the façade of the Cathedral, and is considered one of the masterpieces of Gothic art. Construction began in 1334, and it was designed by Giotto, a very famous artist who, besides painting, also knew how to construct buildings. Unfortunately, Giotto died shortly after, and the tower was still quite low. Then, two other architects continued the work: first Andrea Pisano, and then Francesco Talenti, who completed it in 1359, giving it a lighter and more slender upper section. But this bell tower is not just a tower with bells! At its base, there are many sculpted panels that tell fascinating stories: the invention of tools, human labor, the arts, the planets. Some of these works were created by great masters like Donatello and Luca della Robbia. If you're ready to put in a little effort, you can climb 414 steps to reach the top. From there, the view of the city and Brunelleschi's dome is spectacular!

The Portal of the Mandorla

On the side of the Duomo, along via Ricasoli, there's a truly special door: it is called the Portale della Mandorla. It was crafted between 1391 and 1423, and it gets its name from the large almond-shaped halo that is visible above, surrounding the figure of the Virgin Mary ascending to heaven. This door was not the main entrance, but it is a true masterpiece of sculpture. Several famous artists worked on it, including Donatello and, most notably, Nanni di Banco, who spent almost seven years on it! The statues were assembled on-site by other artists after his death, like a grand puzzle. The beauty of this portal is that it marks the transition between two styles: the Gothic style, full of decoration, and the new Renaissance style, which emulates the art of ancient Rome. The figures appear more natural, the clothing seems real, and the characters look as if they are moving! And then there is a curious detail: in the lower right corner of the Assumption, if you look closely, you will see a little bear climbing a tree! No one knows why it is there, but it makes the work more charming and mysterious. At one time, it was thought that the door was sculpted by another artist, Jacopo della Quercia, but this was an error. This reveals how full of talent and rivalry Florence was during that period!

Brunelleschi's Dome: A Brilliant Challenge

And here we stand before one of the world's most famous masterpieces: the dome of the Florence Cathedral, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. It was built between 1420 and 1436, and it remains the largest masonry dome ever constructed, with a diameter of an impressive 45 meters! At the time, everyone wondered, "How can such a large dome be built without wooden scaffolding?" Brunelleschi found a brilliant solution: he invented a double dome, which means two domes, one inside the other! The inner dome bears the weight, while the outer one protects and decorates. He also employed a special herringbone brick pattern, iron chains to keep it stable, and a highly modern organizational work system for those times. Today, one can climb 463 steps to the top, passing between the two domes. During the ascent, you can get an up-close view of an enormous painting: the Last Judgment, a massive fresco covering over 3,600 square meters! It was started by Giorgio Vasari and completed by Federico Zuccari. At the top is the lantern, a small structure over 90 meters high. From there, one can see all of Florence: the red rooftops, the Arno River, the hills... a breathtaking spectacle!

The Crypt of Santa Reparata

Beneath the floor of the Cathedral lies a truly special place: the Crypt of Santa Reparata. Here, you can find the remains of a very ancient church, built over 1,600 years ago, that was, for a long time, the most important church in Florence until the Cathedral we see today was constructed. This old church was dedicated to a young saint, Santa Reparata, who, according to tradition, helped the Florentines win a battle against their enemies in the distant year of 405. The church had three naves and a mosaic-decorated floor, which is still visible today. As the city grew and needed a larger church, Santa Reparata was demolished to make way for the new Cathedral. By visiting the crypt, one can observe the ancient walls, floors, the tombs of bishops, and also the grave of a very famous figure: Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect who built the Cathedral's dome. His tomb is simple, yet very moving to see. The crypt tells us a piece of Florence's far-reaching history, back when the city was still small but already rich in faith and art.

The Baptistery and the Gate of Paradise

In front of the Cathedral stands a building entirely clad in white and green marble: it is the Baptistery of San Giovanni, one of Florence’s oldest structures! It was built on an old Roman house and consecrated in 1059. For centuries, all Florentines, including famous figures like the poet Dante Alighieri, were baptized here. The Baptistery features three large bronze doors, filled with sculpted figures. The most famous one is called the "Gates of Paradise," and it is entirely covered in gold. It was crafted by a brilliant artist, Lorenzo Ghiberti, who worked on it for over twenty years. The nickname "Gates of Paradise" was given to it by none other than Michelangelo, who found it exceedingly beautiful. This door tells stories from the Bible as if it were a sculpted comic strip: there are scenes full of characters and landscapes in relief! Today, the original is kept in the museum, and in front of the Baptistery, you can see a copy. The Baptistery is a magical place: with its octagonal shape, its decorated doors, and the gilded dome within, it is one of the most beloved symbols of Florence.

The Small Domes and the Lantern

When you look at the Duomo from above, you see many smaller domes surrounding Brunelleschi's great dome. They almost seem like younger siblings, yet they are very important because they help support the structure and render the entire building more harmonious. These domes were also designed by Brunelleschi, who had a very precise idea of how the final part of the Cathedral should be. They serve not just for beauty: they allow light to enter, lighten the walls, and make the interior space more spectacular. At the top of the great dome is the lantern, a white tower pointing towards the sky. It is over 20 meters high and was built following the designs left by Brunelleschi after his death. At the top, there is a golden sphere with a cross, placed there by Andrea del Verrocchio, the same person who was Leonardo da Vinci's master. The lantern is not just a finishing touch: it is an extremely important piece that keeps everything in balance. It can be seen from every corner of the city, like a bright star over Florence. It is the last gift of Brunelleschi's genius to his beloved city.