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 (Toker, n.d.). 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

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

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 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.

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

architecture.info/FL/FL-002.htm

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

McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

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

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