CATHEDRAL Exterior

2:54

Just like we always do at MyWoWo, I suggest taking a walk around the exterior of the great Cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore before going inside. Let me tell you a little bit about its history as you walk along.

The immense building you're admiring is the result of a process that lasted several centuries, but one which also shows the imprint of two architectural geniuses with absolute clarity: they are Arnolfo di Cambio, who designed the general project, and Filippo Brunelleschi, who in the first half of the 1400s designed the masterful dome that crowns the whole. Florence's Cathedral is one of the largest churches in the world, and can hold about 30,000 people.

The Church of Santa Maria del Fiore took the place of the previous Church standing here, which was dedicated to Santa Reparata, and its construction began in 1299. The construction site was led by Arnolfo di Cambio for eleven years, until his death; he was then succeeded by Giotto. In about eighty years' time the Cathedral was substantially completed, lacking only the façade and dome.

I'll tell you more about the dome in the next file, for now let's discuss the façade's very troubled history: at the end of the 1500s all the parts built under Arnolfo di Cambio were dismantled, including the sculptures, which you can still admire today in the Cathedral Museum. For three centuries the façade remained unfinished; it was only completed towards the end of the 1800s in a Neo-Gothic style rich in decorations and sculptures. The use of the same white, red, and green marble that lines the sides makes the set homogeneous regardless. The bronze doors also date back to the same period.

If you look closely at the geometric patterns near the portal by Giotto's Bell Tower, you'll notice that they're a little bit different than the rest of the building: in fact, this is the oldest part of the coating.

The most beautiful side entrance of the Cathedral is at the back left: it's called the "Porta della Mandorla", or Almond Gate, and dates back to the beginning of the 1400s. Note the beautiful bas-relief that decorates the top, and the splendid mosaic depicting the Annunciation.

 

FUN FACT: the wooden portal you see on the left side of the Cathedral between two columns supported by two lions is called the Porta dei Cornacchini, and it's tied to a dramatic episode. A certain Anselmo dreamed of being devoured by a lion. To free himself from the shock of the nightmare, he approached one of the lions of the columns and put a hand in his mouth. But there was a scorpion hiding inside, which stung and killed him!

TravelMate recommends
Choose the option
that suits you
Buy Florence
Permanently unlock the app with all content of Florence for
€ 8,99
Buy
Promotion
Unlock audio content of all available cities for 3 years at the promotional price
€ 19,99
Buy
Don't miss out!
FLORENCE INTRODUCTION
1 Audio

FLORENCE INTRODUCTION

Already a flourishing town in the Middle Ages, at the end of the 13th century Florence was one of the richest cities in the world. It had a democratic government and thrived from trade and craft work,...
THE WONDERS OF LOCAL CUISINE
1 Audio

THE WONDERS OF LOCAL CUISINE

There are numerous other typical dishes you can try here, however.The best-known starters are the crostini, slices of unsalted Tuscan bread toasted and spread with a pâté made from rabbit...
CATHEDRAL
10 Audio

CATHEDRAL

Your visit to Florence can only start with the complex of buildings that includes the Baptistery, Giotto's Bell Tower, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: by themselves, these three buildings...
PONTE VECCHIO
1 Audio

PONTE VECCHIO

Take it all in, this picturesque, unmistakable bridge that's unceasingly crossed by thousands of people, with its small, almost amateur buildings. It has basically maintained its original medieval...
UFFIZI
12 Audio

UFFIZI

Here you'll find yourself standing before some of the most important images of Western civilization: the best of the best of Italian and European art.You should know that the palace housing the Uffizi...
ACCADEMIA
5 Audio

ACCADEMIA

I also suggest spending some time visiting the rest of the Gallery: besides Michelangelo, you can see many other beautiful works of art. Let me tell you about this museum's past: where you now stand...
PALAZZO VECCHIO
3 Audio

PALAZZO VECCHIO

The palace's first nucleus dates back to the architect and sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio, who was the protagonist of Florence's renovation in the age of Dante Alighieri. The tall building with...
SANTA CROCE
5 Audio

SANTA CROCE

The large rectangular square where you stand, brightened by the basilica's white marble façade, is an important urban planning project implemented at the end of the 13th century to expand the...
SANTA MARIA NOVELLA
4 Audio

SANTA MARIA NOVELLA

The great Dominican convent of Santa Maria Novella welcomes you upon your entrance to the western part of Florence's historic center. It is one of the city's landmarks, not only for its exceptional...
PALAZZO PITTI
6 Audio

PALAZZO PITTI

At first sight it seems homogeneous, but if you look more closely and visit the interior and the gardens, you'll be able to recognize all its various historical phases: the central nucleus of the...
BOBOLI GARDENS
2 Audio

BOBOLI GARDENS

The park was built around the middle of the 16th century at the behest of the Medici family as a connection between the new court residence of Palazzo Pitti and the Forte di Belvedere on the opposite...
MEDICI CHAPELS
3 Audio

MEDICI CHAPELS

The entrance to the Medici Chapels is completely independent and is located at the back of the church, in Piazza Madonna degli Aldobrandini, which is always crowded and dominated by the Baroque dome...
BRANCACCI CHAPEL
2 Audio

BRANCACCI CHAPEL

Located just to the right of Santa Maria del Carmine Church, which was renovated in a Baroque style in the late 1700s after a severe fire, you are about to enter the Brancacci Chapel and its fresco...
PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA
1 Audio

PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA

Situated at the entrance to the crowded Via de' Calzaiuoli, the square welcomes you into a compact and severe scenario with a prevalent medieval character, although the 15th and 16th-century...
VIA DE' TORNABUONI
2 Audio

VIA DE' TORNABUONI

This beautiful, straight road where you can indulge yourself in luxury shopping as well as admire churches and historic buildings is dedicated to one of the great noble families of Florence's history....
SAN LORENZO
4 Audio

SAN LORENZO

The church stands on a large platform with stairs in the square behind Palazzo Medici. Right in front of the unfinished façade, you can see the 16th-century monument to the leader Giovanni...
PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO
2 Audio

PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO

Carved out of the green hill overlooking the city on the left bank of the Arno, this square was built as part of the urbanization project implemented between 1865 and 1871, when Florence was the...
SANTO SPIRITO
2 Audio

SANTO SPIRITO

To the left of the church you can see the Gothic stone side of...
BARGELLO
4 Audio

BARGELLO

As massive and severe as a fortress, it's located very close to Palazzo Vecchio. This stone palace before you was worked on many different times since the mid-1200s, also incorporating an older tower....
PALAZZO MEDICI
2 Audio

PALAZZO MEDICI

Palazzo Medici Riccardi began construction in the first half of the 15th century and was the fundamental model for the aristocratic palaces of 1400s: other families, such as the Pitti, Strozzi and...
PIAZZA ANNUNZIATA
4 Audio

PIAZZA ANNUNZIATA

In the center of the square you can admire the equestrian statue of the Grand Duke Ferdinando I that was started by Giambologna and completed by Pietro Tacca in the early 1600s.Tacca also created the...
SAN MARCO
3 Audio

SAN MARCO

Naturally the square gets its name from the church, which is connected to the beautiful Dominican convent of San Marco, and is also full of pigeons like its Venetian homonym!Built at the end of the...
ORSANMICHELE
3 Audio

ORSANMICHELE

Consider that the importance of this church is especially due to the fact that it's the result of collaboration between medieval corporations, which wanted to contribute to the city's cultural...
TravelMate App
DOWNLOAD NOW
THE TRAVELMATE APP
Purchase your activation code, download the TravelMate App, and turn your smartphone into your personal travel companion!
Listen to audio guides about the wonders of the world with TravelMate.
HAVE FUN!