Photos

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore was on the spot coming from the fourth century cathedral of Santa Reparata.

The work under the supervision of Arnold di Cambio was started in 1294 - devised the new temple can be built around the existing church, which was demolished until almost 80 years later. Cathedral was consecrated in 1436. After 30 years, managed to finish the lighthouse built on the vault topped with a golden ball, later shut down work on the facade of the cathedral.

In the second half of the sixteenth century, was destroyed designed by di Cambio facade, the building for so many years no one has succeeded in the end. Then have been put competition to design a new façade, but this part of the temple was built to be clearly unlucky - for 300 years rejected proposals, and only coming in 1871 accepted the neo-Gothic design Emilio de Fabris. Finally, the facade was completed in 1887, ending the lasting almost 600 years the construction of the cathedral. However today admit that the work of so many generations looks impressive - it has dimensions of 153 x 38 meters, while rising 90 meters above the ground.

In the south, the oldest part of the cathedral we find a great portal, known as the Porta della Mandorla. Above the entrance you can admire relief dated to about 1420 years design by Nanni di Banco, representing the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Between placed on the facade of the four pilasters find portals with scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. In the tympanum of the central portal is a relief showing her with patrons of the city, and the next we find the figure of Charity and Faith.

This is a scan from negative.