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Cathedral in Florence: Duomo - Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Duomo is a generic Italian term for a cathedral church. The formal word for a church that is presently a cathedral is cattedrale; a Duomo may be either a present or a former cathedral (the latter always in a town that no longer has a bishop nor therefore a cathedral, as for example Trevi). Such churches are usually referred to simply as "Il Duomo" or "The Duomo", without regard to the full proper name of the church.
One of the largest cathedrals on earth, the main attraction is its amazing red brick dome or cupola which was created by Filippo Brunelleschi back in the sixteen hundreds. Climbing the 463 steps to the top of this Florentine cathedral will give you an unparalleled view of the city.
The magnificent Duomo of Florence stands above all other buildings in the city. Construction began in the 12th century and was not completed until the dome was built in the 15th century. Thus, the cathedral has both Roman and Gothic architectural styles. One of the main attractions in the interior is the polychrome floors, which were worked on by multiple artists before they were completed. The frescos, choir stalls, floor mosaics, and stained glass are some of the finest you will see. The Rose Window by Duccio di Buoninsegna, which was created in 1288, is one of Italy's first examples of stained glass craftsmanship.
Meaning of the colors of marble used: Rose- , White-Purity, Green-
The dome itself wasn't even possible when the building was designed; instead, the roof sat uncovered until Brunelesci was born and designed a way for a giant dome to sit atop the building. The outside facade of the main church wasn't added until the 1800's, though the bell-tower was completed far before that.
 A road to the cathedral |
 D at El Duomo cathedral facade |
 Cathedral doors |
 Side and dome |