History of the Cathedral of S. Maria del Fiore on the ancient basilica of S.Reparata

Santa Reparata was the ancient cathedral of the early Christian era of Florence, on whose site Santa Maria del Fiore (the cathedral) was built starting from 1296.

On 8 September 1296 the first stone of the new cathedral was laid which was therefore dedicated to S .Maria (September 8 is the feast of the Nativity of the Madonna) "of the flower" that is of the city of Florence (Fiorenza), but the Florentines continued to honor Santa Reparata.

Among the first demolished parts there was the first span to make room for the works and give more air to the baptistery, which became the most important church in the square.

Despite this, Santa Reparata continued to be officiated, so much so that the facade of the cathedral was started at the same time to close the environment of the old church.

The definitive demolition took place only when it was inevitable to have to make room to create the vaults of the new building, in 1375.

The construction of the Cathedral of S.

Maria del Fiore, ordered by the Florentine Lordship, began in 1296 and ended from a structural point of view only in 1436.

The initial works were entrusted to the architect Arnolfo di Cambio and then interrupted and resumed numerous times over the decades (by Giotto, Francesco Talenti and Giovanni di Lapo Ghini).

After the completion of Brunelleschi's dome followed the consecration by Pope Eugene IV on March 25, 1436.

The plan of the Cathedral is made up of a three-nave basilica body welded by a huge triconic rotunda that supports the immense Brunelleschi dome, the largest masonry dome ever built.

Inside it is visible the largest surface ever decorated with fresco: 3600 m², executed between 1572-1579 by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari.

At the base of the marble lantern, there is a panoramic terrace overlooking the city 91 meters from the ground.

The facade of the Cathedral in polychrome marble is from the modern era, dates back to 1887 by Emilio de Fabris and is an important example of neo-Gothic style in Italy.