Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore

It is the episcopal seat of the archdiocese of Florence, in addition to being one of the masterpieces of Gothic art and the first Italian Renaissance. It is one of the largest buildings in Christendom. It is 155 meters long and 107 meters from the highest part of the dome and is one of the most carefully constructed structures in Italy. It began to be built on top of the early Christian cathedral of Santa Reparata at the end of the 13th century, so that the city had a church in line with others that already existed. The dimensions of the church are enormous, it is 153 meters long and 130 meters wide. That the interior seems gloomy and gives the impression of an empty building has an explanation, and it is that it corresponds to the austerity of religious life. It should be noted that many of the church decorations have been moved to the Duomo Opera Museum.

Arnolfo Di Cambio, architect and sculptor trained with Nicola Pisano, was commissioned to begin construction and when he died, the façade was halfway decorated. It should be noted that the author gave the Duomo large spaces, leaving aside the idea of Gothic art that prevailed at the time. A very characteristic element is the grandiose dome, the work of Brunelleschi, although it was originally made of wood, the work of Di Cambio. This model served as a guide for the different artists, but presented the project incomplete to ensure control over the construction.

The excavations that have been carried out discovered runes of Roman houses, or ruins of the ancient cathedral of Santa Reparata. Furthermore, near the public entrance is Brunelleschi's tomb, as a sign of the affection and respect shown to him by the inhabitants of Florence.