From our unique and elegant hotel, turn left across Piazza della Repubblica, then walk along Via Roma, and you will find yourelf face to face to Santa Maria del Fiore, called the Duomo, the majestic Cathedral of Florence.
The construction of the Duomo of Florence started in 1296 by Arnolfo di Cambio whose place was taken by Giotto in 1334. Later in 1357 Francesco Talenti and Giovanni di Lapo Ghini finished the work, and it was given the name Santa Reparata Church until in 1412 it adopted its current name. The church was consecrated on March 25th 1436, by Pope Eugenius IV, when the Brunnelleschi Dome was finally completed.
153 meters long, the Duomo of Florence has a plant consisting of a basilica with three naves body attached to a round "triconca" that supports the immense Brunelleschi's Dome which is 54 meters wide, making it the largest dome ever built. You will be enchanted by its solid, impressive, fascinating composition, and intrigued by its magnificence. While if you are inside the cathedral, it is very common to be stroke by the 3600 square meters of frescoes.
Initially, by the will of Brunelleschi, his dome was supposed to be decorated with gold mosaics, but after his death this idea was put aside and was simply painted white. In 1572, the Grand Duke Cosimo I de Medici asked the architect Vasari to fresco the dome with the famous painting of the "Last Judgement". The work continued for 7 years and after the death of Vasari, in 1974, the masterpiece was completed by Federico Zuccari and his faithful collaborators.
Today the Duomo of Florence is the fifth largest church in Europe and the symbol of Florence grandeur.