It was during the 14th century when Europe had undergone a dramatic change from the Gothic of

the late Middle Ages (Medieval era) to that of the Renaissance. The term “renaissance” literally means

“rebirth” in French, a period that many new forms of artistic marvels and architectural wonders that stand

today with monuments such as the San Lorenzo and the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi but one of the most

significant structures that best represents Renaissance architecture is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

better known as Florence Cathedral located in Florence, Italy. The building of the cathedral was dedicated

to the Virgin Mary (Ching, Jarzombek, Prakash, 2007). Florence, the city that was regarded as the

birthplace of the Renaissance was a strategic location where trade had flourished as Italy was positioned

in between Western Europe and Eastern Byzantine; as well as the city states that were dominated by

wealthy families who sought prestige and status through their patronage of arts and local artists and

architects (Fazio, Moffett, Wodenhouse, 2009).

Florence as a trade center

It was Arnolfo di Cambio who had first began the constructing the Cathedral of Florence in the year

1296. He was followed by Giotto di Bondane who started to construct the Campanile, bell tower, in 1334

after he was nominated. It was in the 1350s that the Florentines had decided to expand the length of the

nave as an effort to outdo the Romanesque cathedral of Pisa and Siena. This can be credited to Francesco

Talenti who had continued the construction of the cathedral by enlarging the structure as well as completing

Unknown. (2011). Philopanoramica [Painting]. Retrieved May 4, 2013 from http://leestuscanodyssey.blogspot.com/2011/01/63-3-in-1-thursday-laurentian-library.html

the campanile. But it was the brilliant work of Filippo Brunelleschi that began in the year 1420 that the

massive Duomo had moved towards completion. In the year 1436, the Cathedral of Florence was finally

completed with the addition of the Lantern which construction began in 1446; the year that Brunelleschi had

passed away.

The structure of the cathedral was designed to have a domed crossing from which emanate three

arms of equal length, the fourth which has a longer arm is the nave with a centralized structure for the altar

and the clergy; the shape of the nave and the three dome apses were designed to represent a Latin cross.

The dome of the Florence Cathedral was built using bricks of different sizes while the external walls of the

cathedral are covered with graceful green, white and pink marble claddings is an expression of spirituality

(Parke, 2002). The construction of the dome however remained an issue then because it had been

impossible to build a wooden framework that would support the weight of the dome without breaking the

octagonal drum. Using his knowledge on ancient Roman construction, Brunelleschi had solved the problem

by simply using the pointed-arch cross section instead of the semi-circular shape he had managed to

reduce the load along with the double shell of radial and concentric ribs.

Structure of the dome

The Florentines wanting to have their cathedral crowned with a mighty dome had led Brunelleschi

into devising a method that had gone on to create a new form of building to create harmony and beauty that

has impacted modern architectural forms. Today the Florence Cathedral stands tall with its shadow soaring

over the skies of Florence as a sign of marvel and inspiration to all.

Unknown. (2013). Beautiful renaissance cathedral [Photograph]. Retrieved May 3, 2013 from

http://www.yalago.com/en/destinations/europe/flights-to-flights-to-florence.html

References

Catling, C. (2011). Florence & Tuscany. London: Dorling Kindersley.

Ching, F., Jarzombek, M., & Prakash, V. (2007). A global history of architecture. Hoboken, N.J: J. Wiley &

Sons.

Fazio, M., Moffett, M., & Wodenhouse, L. (2009). Buildings Across Time (3rd ed.). Mass, Boston: McGraw-

Hill Higher Education.

Kostof, S. (1959). A history of architecture: Settings and rituals (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University

Press.

Murray, P. (1986). The architecture of the Italian Renaissance (3rd ed.). London: Thames and Hudson Ltd.

Parke, T. (2002). FLORENCE A city with a view. London: Tauris & Co Ltd.

Toker, F. K. (n.d.). Florence Cathedral: The Design Stage. Retrieved May 2, 2013, from

https://courses.marlboro.edu/pluginfile.php/32835/mod_page/content/1/Florence_Cathedral-

The_Design_Stage.pdf

Essential Architecture- Florence Cathedral. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2013, from http://www.italian-

architecture.info/FL/FL-002.htm

Garntner, P. J. (1998). Brunelleschi. Germany: Konemann.