The Dome of the Duomo

The dome of the Duomo in Florence, Italy was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi.

"Brunelleschi used more than 4 million bricks in the construction of the dome. He invented a new hoisting machine for raising the masonry needed for the dome, a task no doubt inspired by republication of Vitruvius' De Architectura, which describes Roman machines used in the first century AD to build large structures such as the Pantheon and the Baths of Diocletian, structures still standing which he would have seen for himself. He also issued one of the first patents for the hoist in an attempt to prevent theft of his ideas. Brunelleschi was granted the first modern patent for his invention of a river transport vessel.

Brunelleschi kept his workers up in the building during their breaks and brought food and wine up to them. He felt the trip up and down the hundreds of stairs would exhaust them and reduce their productivity. In a further attempt to motivate the workers, he gave them diluted wine, similar to that given to pregnant women at the time."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filippo_Brunelleschi

The Duomo, or Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, in Florence, Italy was built on the site of an earlier cathedral dedicated to Saint Reparata. Work was commenced in 1296 with the structure completed in 1436. Green, white and pink marble decorate the 19th century Gothic Revival façade. It, along with the the Baptistery and the Campanile, have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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