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Italy Vacation: The Cathedral or the Duomo of Florence

Written by VacationIdea.com Travel Editors.

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The construction of the Duomo of Florence began at the end of the 13th century. The magnificent dome, constructed without use of scaffolding, was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and completed in 1434. For many centuries it has been the symbol of Florence and Renaissance architecture. Today the Duomo of Florence is the fourth largest cathedral in the world, after St. Peter's in Rome, St. Paul's in London and the Duomo in Milan.

The Cathedral of Florence:

The facade of the Duomo of Florence is very colorful with a design in white, red and green marble. The exterior, adorned with statues and windows, was designed in the second part of the 19th century by Emilio de Fabris, following the design of Giotto's bell tower. The inside of the Duomo has high gothic arches, windows and doors. The walls are adorned with frescoes, including those by Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno. Brunelleschi's dome rises high above marble pavement inside the cathedral. Visitors can climb to the top of the dome and enjoy scenic views of the city.

The Baptistry:

A separate structure located on the entrance side of the Duomo of Florence, the Baptistry is famous for its East door panels by Ghiberti which mark the beginnings of Renaissance. The South doors of the Baptistry were designed by Andrea Pisano. The Baptistry also features colorful mosaics from the 13th century.

Giotto's Bell Tower:

The bell tower (campanile) was designed by Giotto more as a decoration for the square than for practical use. The marble pieces for the tower were brought from different areas of Italy: white marble from Carrara, green from Prato, and red from Siena. The bell tower is about 20 feet shorter than the dome.

Vacation Tip:

When visiting churches in Florence, and Italy in general, you have to have your shoulders and legs covered to be let into the church or cathedral. This usually means wearing a shirt with short or long sleeves, and trousers for men.

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