The Cathedral of Florence the Most Important Church in Italy

The Cathedral of Florence is one of the largest churches in Europe, this extraordinary architectural and artistic work every day attracts a large number of guided Florence tours and visitors. Its construction of the cathedral in an era where it was not possible to use actual technology can be considered an architectural miracle, Brunelleschi's cupola is still the largest masonry dome ever built, the interior of the cathedral is adorned with the largest surface decorated with frescoes that has ever been made with its 3600 square meters painted by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari

At the end of 1200, when Arnolfo di Cambio began the construction of the Cathedral of Florence and the Palazzo dei Priori delle Arti, which later became the Palazzo della Signoria, Florence was a kind of New York of theMiddle Ages.

Everyone wanted to live here, merchants, bankers, here was the wealth and the latest news in fashion, the navel of the world, really! Florence then had one hundred thousand inhabitants, twice the population of London! Here is revealed the secret of greatness and magnificence of the buildings of the religious and political centre of Florence, so that's whythe size of the imposing Duomo of Florence!

Cathedral of Florence include the extraordinary frescoes of Brunelleschi's dome representing the Last Judgement. They were painted by Giorgio Vasari in the mid-sixteenth century. Inside the Cathedral there is the treasures of the Museum of the Opera del Duomo, including the Pietà Bandini by Michelangelo, masterpieces by Donatello and the Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise, ruined by the flood of November 4, 1966,restored during twenty-seven years of and exposed again to the public in September 2012.

In front to the Cathedral there is the Baptistery, built in Romanesque style, with the stunning mosaics of the dome, dating back to 1200 and the tomb of the anti-pope John the twenty-third sculpted by Donatello and Michelozzo during the Renaissance.

The construction of this church has continued for centuries and in different stages last of which was completed only in 1887 with the construction of the front of the church after many vicissitudes and controversy, considering that the first project for the completion of the front dates back to the times of family of the Medici in 1491 when Lorenzo the Magnificent had promoted a contest to award the work of the front, but he suspended all decision sends it back to better times.

The Cathedral of Florence today as well as being a reference point for Florence tours continues its traditional function as a religious center of the city where the most important celebrations are carried out thanks to its extraordinary capacity that can hold thousands of people.

Susanna Mantovani is a professional guide specialized in Florence tours

Article Source: Susanna_Mantovani

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