Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as the capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art-loving, power-hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The Duomo di Firenze was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to a design by Arnolfo di Cambio and completed and consecrated in 1436 with the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. Santa Maria del Fiore was built on the site of Florence's second cathedral, the first building here was consecrated as a church in 393 by St. Ambrose of Milan. After Arnolfo's death, work stalled for about 5 decades as resources were used to build the third city wall and the construction of the Palazzo della Signoria. According to Arnolfo's designs, only the lower part of the facade had been completed by then. The project received a new impetus when the relics of St. Zenobius were discovered here in 1330. In 1331 the guild of wool merchants took over the patronage for the construction of the cathedral and commissioned Giotto with the construction management in 1334. Assisted by Andrea Pisano, Giotto continued di Cambio's design. His greatest achievement was the construction of the bell tower. When Giotto died on January 8, 1337, Andrea Pisano continued construction until work was stopped due to the Black Death in 1348. The foundations had already been laid in 1298 when construction work began. Giotto designed a bell tower that would have reached a height of over 100 m. When Giotto died in 1337, only the first floor was finished. Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti was found in the 1359 build with some modifications. The tower got a low pyramidal roof and was only 85 m high. There are some very interesting depictions of trades on the tower. Here an architect with his assistants and an astronomer looking at the stars.

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as the capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art-loving, power-hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The Duomo di Firenze was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to a design by Arnolfo di Cambio and completed and consecrated in 1436 with the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. Santa Maria del Fiore was built on the site of Florence's second cathedral, the first building here was consecrated as a church in 393 by St. Ambrose of Milan. After Arnolfo's death, work stalled for about 5 decades as resources were used to build the third city wall and the construction of the Palazzo della Signoria. According to Arnolfo's designs, only the lower part of the facade had been completed by then. The project received a new impetus when the relics of St. Zenobius were discovered here in 1330. In 1331 the guild of wool merchants took over the patronage for the construction of the cathedral and commissioned Giotto with the construction management in 1334. Assisted by Andrea Pisano, Giotto continued di Cambio's design. His greatest achievement was the construction of the bell tower. When Giotto died on January 8, 1337, Andrea Pisano continued construction until work was stopped due to the Black Death in 1348. Work on the dome began in 1420 and ended in 1436. It was the first "octagonal" dome in history to be built without a temporary wooden framework. It was one of the most impressive projects of the Renaissance.

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as the capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art-loving, power-hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The Duomo di Firenze was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to a design by Arnolfo di Cambio and completed and consecrated in 1436 with the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. Santa Maria del Fiore was built on the site of Florence's second cathedral, the first building here was consecrated as a church in 393 by St. Ambrose of Milan. After Arnolfo's death, work stalled for about 5 decades as resources were used to build the third city wall and the construction of the Palazzo della Signoria. According to Arnolfo's designs, only the lower part of the facade had been completed by then. The project received a new impetus when the relics of St. Zenobius were discovered here in 1330. In 1331 the guild of wool merchants took over the patronage for the construction of the cathedral and commissioned Giotto with the construction management in 1334. Assisted by Andrea Pisano, Giotto continued di Cambio's design. His greatest achievement was the construction of the bell tower. When Giotto died on January 8, 1337, Andrea Pisano continued construction until work was stopped due to the Black Death in 1348. Work on the dome began in 1420 and ended in 1436. It was the first "octagonal" dome in history to be built without a temporary wooden framework. It was one of the most impressive projects of the Renaissance. When Giotto di Bondone came to Florence, which he was already 68 years old, he concentrated his work on the Campanile. The foundations had already been laid in 1298 when construction work began. Giotto designed a bell tower that would have reached a height of over 100 m. When Giotto died in 1337, only the first floor was finished. Andrea Pisano and Francesco Talenti was found in the 1359 build with some modifications. The tower got a low pyramidal roof and was only 85 m high. You can find many more photos taken in Siena and Florence here www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1339112

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as the capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art-loving, power-hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The Duomo di Firenze was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to a design by Arnolfo di Cambio and completed and consecrated in 1436 with the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. Santa Maria del Fiore was built on the site of Florence's second cathedral, the first building here was consecrated as a church in 393 by St. Ambrose of Milan. After Arnolfo's death, work stalled for about 5 decades as resources were used to build the third city wall and the construction of the Palazzo della Signoria. According to Arnolfo's designs, only the lower part of the facade had been completed by then. The project received a new impetus when the relics of St. Zenobius were discovered here in 1330. In 1331 the guild of wool merchants took over the patronage for the construction of the cathedral and commissioned Giotto with the construction management in 1334. Assisted by Andrea Pisano, Giotto continued di Cambio's design. His greatest achievement was the construction of the bell tower. When Giotto died on January 8, 1337, Andrea Pisano continued construction until work was stopped due to the Black Death in 1348. Work on the dome began in 1420 and ended in 1436. It was the first "octagonal" dome in history to be built without a temporary wooden framework. It was one of the most impressive projects of the Renaissance. The façade, begun under Arnolfo di Cambio, was felt to be outdated as early as 1588 and was demolished to make room for a new façade design, for which, however, the funds were not sufficient. The present west facade is a late 19th century neo-Gothic completion. It was completed by 1887.

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already, when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic was ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was, when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art loving, power hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The rain ceased for an hour and so I walked up a hill, to get an overview. Seen here are the "Ponte Vecchio" crossing the Arno (left), the large tower (94m high!) belongs to the "Palazzo Vecchio", today the town hall of Florence. The small dome belongs to the "Basilica di San Lorenzo", the white triangle is the roof of the "Battistero di San Giovanni", next to this with the campanile and the large dome is the "Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore". The small church in front of the cathedral is the "Chiesa di Santa Margherita dei Cerchi"..

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already, when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic was ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was, when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art loving, power hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The construction of the cathedral, designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, started in 1296, replacing an older cathedral, that was too small for the growing population. It was completed about 140 years later with a dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi. Looking up into the dome, that was largest dome in the world for a long time.

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already, when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic was ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was, when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art loving, power hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The construction of the cathedral, designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, started in 1296, replacing an older cathedral, that was too small for the growing population. It was completed about 140 years later with a dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi and a campanile designed by Giotto. The western facade of the basilica dates to the 19th century and was done by Emilio De Fabris. As the weather got worse, I needed the support of other tourists, to take shots.

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already, when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic was ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was, when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art loving, power hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The construction of the cathedral, designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, started in 1296, replacing an older cathedral, that was too small for the growing population. It was completed about 140 years later with a dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi and a campanile designed by Giotto. The western facade of the basilica, seen here, dates to the 19th century and was done by Emilio De Fabris.