Stefani+Wagoner

The construction of the Florence Cathedral began in 1296. The length is 502 ft, and the width is 124 ft. The inside of the cathedral has a gothic style interior. The cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Arch Diocese of Florence. The cathedral underwent difficult excavations between 1965 and 1974.

By the beginning of the 15th century, after 100 years of construction, the structure was still missing it's dome. The dome was engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi. The dome is the largest brick dome ever constructed.

The Arch Bishop is currently Giusseppe Betori. The cathedral's preacher is Girolamo Savonarola. Many decorations in the church have been lost in the course of time, or have been transferred to the Museum Opera del Duomo. Most of decorations in the cathedral are from the 15th or 16th century.