The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Baptistery of Saint John

Impressive, right? This is one of the largest cathedrals in the world, with dimensions that were astonishing for its time. Built during the 13th and 14th centuries by several renowned architects, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore stood incomplete for about forty years with an open top. The challenge was formidable as no one knew how to build a dome large enough to cover such a vast space. In 1420, the solution finally arrived with Filippo Brunelleschi. Inspired by the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, he revolutionized architecture by designing a dome of almost 45 meters in diameter. This masterpiece, now named after its creator as Brunelleschi’s Dome, was completed in the 15th century, finally sealing this magnificent building and becoming the cathedral’s crowning glory. The only thing that has changed since then is its façade. By the 16th century, it was considered outdated. It was redesigned by Emilio de Fabris,  using green marble from Prato, red marble from the Maremma, and white marble from Carrara to create the beautiful front you see now. The cathderal’s simple interior is brought to life by its multicoloured marble floor. If you go inside, you can climb up into the dome and admire Brunelleschi’s craftsmanship up close. Though before stepping in, you might want to go and admire the baptistery opposite the cathedral – it probably already caught your eye anyway. Despite being built in a similar white and green marble style, it is much older than its neighbour. It was the city’s cathedral before Santa Maria del Fiore was built. Constructed on top of a former Roman house, the baptistery is believed to date back to the 5th century as a Roman temple. In the 11th century, it was turned into a cathedral, and was later dedicated to Florence’s patron saint, John the Baptist. The famous doors facing the cathedral are what Michelangelo called the Gates of Paradise. The legendary poet Dante is one of the many influential people baptised here. You cannot miss this site in the Tuscan capital!