Florence Cathedral

Florence Cathedral, Gothic cathedral church in Florence, Italy, dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, the Madonna of Florence, also known as the Duomo, after its famous octagonal dome.

The cathedral, clad in red, green, and white marble, stands on the site of an ancient palaeo-Christian church founded in the 6th-7th century. Work on the cathedral began in 1294 and continued until 1436. Several celebrated architects were involved in its construction, including Arnolfo di Cambio, Giotto, Andrea Orcagna, and, most notably, Filippo Brunelleschi, who was responsible for designing and building the dome, which towers above the Florentine roofline and was considered the greatest engineering feat of the early Renaissance.

The cathedral's decorative programme was a lengthy project: the exterior was ornamented with sculpture and mosaics by, among others, Donatello, Nanni di Banco, and Domenico Ghirlandaio; the walls are pierced by stained-glass windows by Lorenzo Ghiberti, and the interior has sculpture and fresco paintings by other Renaissance masters.

The campanile (bell tower) is situated to the right of the entrance to the Duomo. Construction was begun by Giotto and completed to his plans in 1359, after his death. Standing some 85 m (278 ft) high, the campanile is decorated with marble of the same colours as on the duomo, as well as panels of relief sculpture by Andrea Pisano and Luca della Robbia, and sculpted figures in niches by Donatello and others.

Facing the cathedral and campanile is the Baptistery of San Giovanni (6th-9th century), noted for its gilt-bronze doors by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti.