Duomo di Firenze
The famous dome is of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (also known as the Duomo) of Florence (Firenze) in Italy. Santa Maria del Fiore is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Florence and dominates its skyline.
This Renaissance-era dome was designed and engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi and completed in 1436.
Work on the church itself began in 1296. The first architect was Arnolfo di Cambio. He died in 1302, and there were several architects after who added to the church as well as several interruptions in construction lasting years.
Work on the dome started in 1420—124 years after the start of the construction of the church, after a competition for the design of the dome, that was won by Brunelleschi, and supported by Cosimo de Medici. His main rival was Lorenzo Ghiberti.
The church had no dome for over a hundred years, until the Brunelleschi dome was completed in 1436. The lantern on the dome, also built by Brunelleschi was completed in 1461.
Brunelleschi’s design and ingenious construction methods are admired and analyzed to the present day.
Before working on the dome Brunelleschi designed and built several churches and civic buildings in Florence.
He is also credited with being the first person to describe a precise system of linear perspective.