![]() ![]() On March 25, 1436, Pope Eugenius IV consecrated the finished cathedral, to a soundtrack of tolling bells and the cheers of proud Florentines in 16 years Brunelleschi had achieved something many in Florence never thought possible and created an icon whose image has echoed across the world for centuries. ![]() Without the costly requirement of scaffolding, his vision was to construct a dome within a dome that is, an inner shell made of sandstone and marble and an outer shell made of brick and mortar - each individually designed, shaped and fired to support the dome perfectly. Open to all members of the public, and attracting the crème de la crème of the region’s architects, it came as somewhat of a surprise to all - including the overseers - when the commission was handed to Filippo Brunelleschi, a relatively unknown genius (and a goldsmith, not an architect) with a secret plan. With their unfinished cathedral and impossible dreams, the fathers of Florence risked looking like fools and so came about a competition that would change the city's skyline forever. It wasn't even clear if the existing structure could support a cupola of this size without collapsing the structure beneath. However, the desire to avoid external arches and gothic design (this was to be a Renaissance masterpiece after all) meant that - perhaps somewhat embarrassingly - nobody knew quite how to build it.Īrchitects were keenly aware of countless examples of huge concrete circular domes in Italian history (such as the Pantheon in Rome), but the recipe for concrete was lost in the dark ages and, even with it, there was unlikely enough timber in Tuscany to manufacture the required scaffolding for a dome that began so far off the ground. Yet it was not until 1418 that those in charge addressed a significant flaw: the monumental cathedral, designed to showcase the city's cultural status, was still without a roof.Īt 45m across, and beginning 54m above the ground, the magnificent cupola was to be the largest dome ever constructed. Based upon the designs of Siennese architect Arnolfo di Cambio, the construction of Florence's Cathedral began in 1294. ![]()
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