Duomo di Firenze: An Architectural Masterpiece

By: Jessica Adan

Florence, Italy’s well-known architecture is shaped by two movements: the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

The Medieval movement took place in the Middle Ages from 476 CE to the beginning of the 14th century. This pivotal point in history brought structures such as the Ponte Vecchio, Basilica of Santa Croce and Palazzo Vecchio to the city.

The Renaissance movement, arguably a more fundamental movement, took place from the 14th century to the 17th century. The art, architecture and layout of the city created in these times are defined by timeless artists like Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. Examples include the Uffizi Gallery, Laurentian Library and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, which houses the famous Duomo di Firenze.

An array of all types of buildings in Florence represents the Medieval and Renaissance movements.

A Must-See for Visitors

Located in the heart of the city, the Duomo is a huge attraction that brings many guests from all around the world. Bill Schultz, a tourist from Montana in the United States, has been eager to see it his whole vacation.

The exterior of the Duomo, which is attached to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

“I came here because I have heard that the Duomo is the architectural masterpiece in the world,” Schultz said.

He and his family were working their way up the numerous flights of stairs to see the city view at the top.

“I am amazed at the fact that it is a masonry dome that is so huge and self-supported.”

Bill Schultz enjoying his way up to the top of the Duomo.

Schultz is just one of the 4.5 million visitors that travel to the Duomo each year, most being international and from the US, China, the UK, France and Spain.

Building History of the Duomo di Firenze

The Duomo di Firenze has been a work in progress for hundreds of years and has been touched by many hands.

The concept of the Duomo was born in 1296 when Arnolfo di Cambio created the plan. The actual construction of the dome did not start until 1420 by Filippo Brunelleschi.

It would then take 16 years for the construction of the dome and the church that it is attached to, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, to be finished.

This is a wooden model of the dome. It is found in the Opera del Duomo Museum.

Although it was officially built in 1436, adjustments made to the dome were far from over. The outer design faced damages due to storms and other changes over time, which would not be fully resolved and completed until more than 400 years later, in 1887.

Since then, all further adaptations have been conducted to keep the building updated.

The Special Design

The design of the Duomo is quite complex for its time. While Filippo Brunelleschi was trying to make the plan, the issue of how the dome could stand arose.

Usually, architecture such as this one requires a buttress to would support the structure by putting pressure and weight on exterior walls. However, at this time, there was not a sufficient amount of wood in Tuscany to create these items. With this in mind, Brunelleschi had to devise a solution: creating two domes, one placed inside the other. The domes were constructed with bricks and a stone chain that helped fill in the role of the buttresses.

A large model of the dome, including its brick structure, detailed carvings and terrace. This is found in the Opera del Duomo Museum.

The structure of the bricks is what amazes Lorenz Giordani, an information and security staffer at the Opera del Duomo Museum, the most about the Duomo.

“In Florence, we call the bricks ‘al lisca di pesce.’ It means the fish has bones still in it,” he said.

Bricks are used on the exterior and interior of the dome to give support.

Giordani admires how they serve as the backbone of the Duomo.

Lorenz Giordani likes to learn about art and architecture at his workplace, the Opera del Duomo Museum.

Journey Up

When visiting the Duomo, you can purchase tickets at the box office in the Piazza del Duomo or purchase them online ahead of time. In-person lines tend to be longer and more difficult to obtain access. Tourists can even book tours that allow them to skip the line and get a guide's detailed history of the attraction, though they may be longer than a self-paced exploration.

On most days, a long line of people trying to enter the Duomo is normal.

Upon entering the piazza, you can enjoy a view of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore before heading into a small archway, where you'll begin the long upward movement through several staircases. It consists of 10 flights of 463 steps with no option to use an elevator.

The staircases were made for construction workers and not designed with the intent of visitors using them, so they are slim, steep and relatively compact.

After the first set of stairs, you will be able to enjoy Giorgio Vasari’s famous Last Judgement painting on the inner walls of the bottom dome. This piece exemplifies judgment day regarding Jesus Christ and the afterlife. A variety of people, saints, angels and more are featured. The walkway you take to get to continue through the exhibit covers the entire circumference allowing you to get a 360-degree appreciation of the art.

You will see the Last Judgment when you look up on the walkway on the way up the dome between staircases.

The last flight of steps forms a narrow stone spiral that, if walked up too quickly, can cause dizziness. However, the stairs and the sparse amount of small windows do not prepare you enough for the beauty to uncover as you step out onto the terrace of the upper dome.

The View

Awaiting you at the top of the Duomo is another 360-degree view, but instead of a painting, it's the whole city of Florence. Standing 114 meters above ground, which is around 374 feet, you are presented with all of the buildings, cathedrals, bridges, and tiny people that make up the city.

You can walk around, peer out to the city, insert a coin to use the binoculars and take pictures. Although there are many people around, it almost feels like it is just you and Florence.

Some visitors using the binocular to get a closer look at the buildings.

The city panoramic is not the only factor to appreciate. There is also the exterior of the Duomo, with its complexity and the detailed shaping of the terrace, which is something to admire and continues to reflect the Renaissance style.