| Florence Cathedral: the Duomo of Florence and Giotto's Campanile |
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Address: Piazza Duomo, Florence
The Florence Duomo is dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore and
is typical of Italian Gothic architecture.  The present building was designed by Arnolfo di
Cambio (c. 1245-1302), one of the greatest architect- sculptors
of his age, who considerably enlarged the existing structure.
This was finished in around 1367 and was completely covered with
coloured marbles like the earlier Baptistery,
although the uncompleted facade was given its covering in the
nineteenth century. The Cupola remained unfinished, and in 1421
the polygonal base was erected. Two architects won the
competition to design the dome, Lorenzo Ghiberti (1368-1445) and Filippo
Brunelleschi (1377-1446), but it was Brunelleschi who
actually built it using remarkable technical knowledge to achieve
the uniquely beautiful results we see today. Completed in 1436,
the Cupola is the most
characteristic feature of the Florentine skyline, symbolising a
great cultural tradition and the city's civic awareness. One of
the most notable features of the exterior apart from the apses is
the beautiful Porta della Mandorla on the north facade, so-called
from the large aureole around the Assumption of the Virgin
(mandorla = almond) sculptured by Nanni di Banco (1380/90-1421).
Inside are several important works of art, offset by the
architecture's taut Gothic forms, completely different from
medieval buildings north of the Alps. Of primary importance are
the two frescoes on the right-hand wall showing the equestrian
monuments of the "condottieri" John Hawkwood and
Niccolò da Tolentino by Paolo Uccello (1436) and Andrea
del Castagno (1456). The fresco decoration of the clock on the
inside wall, showing four vigorous heads of male saints, are by
Paolo Uccello.  Many of the sculptures from the
Duomo are now kept in the Museum of
the Opera del Duomo (see separate entry) but others are still
in place, such as the lunettes by Luca della Robbia above the
doors of the Sacristy or the bronze door of the Mass Sacristy.
The great Pietà by Michelangelo (c. 1553) has been
temporarily removed.
The splendid stained glass windows should not be forgotten,
mainly executed from 1434-1445 to the designs of such important
artists as Donatello, Andrea del Castagno and Paolo Uccello. Also
notable are the wooden inlays of the Sacristy cupboards to the
designs of Brunelleschi, Antonio Del Pollaiolo and others.
The Cupola's interior
remained undecorated until Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) and
Federico Zuccari (c. 1540-1609) painted a huge and not entirely
satisfactory Last Judgement there. The "Cupolone" or
huge dome remains, with the cathedral bell-tower known as the
"Campanile di Giotto", the most striking feature of any
view of the city. Giotto, the famous painter and architect
designed the tower, although at his death in 1337 only the lowest
part was complete. Work was continued under Andrea Pisano (c.
1290-1349) and Francesco Talenti (active 1325-1369) who completed
the structure repeating the decoration of marble relieved by
windows; the traditional pointed finial was never added. The
sculptured marble panels illustrate a cycle centred around the
theme of the order of the universe.
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