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Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Destinations

Where Florence touches the heavens

The Duomo is Florence’s beating heart, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture crowned by Brunelleschi’s groundbreaking dome.

The typical Italian Gothic building, completed in 1434, is the most important landmark in Florence. It is the fourth largest church in the world. The Cathedral of Florence is dedicated to “Santa Maria del Fiore”, the Virgin of the Flower. It is clearly an allusion to the lily, the symbol of the city of Florence. It was Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) who won a competition to build the massive and iconic dome. He used more than four million bricks in the construction.

Insider Insight

Inside the Duomo, the clock designed by Paolo Uccello is an overlooked gem. The clock is unique because it moves counterclockwise and follows ora italica, an ancient time system. Look closely, and you’ll notice references to zodiac signs—a detail that reflects the blending of art and astronomy during the Renaissance.

Legend has it that Brunelleschi secured the commission for the dome by challenging rivals to stand an egg upright on a flat surface. When they failed, he simply cracked the egg slightly, making it stand. It’s a clever anecdote often shared during private tours, symbolizing the ingenuity behind his engineering marvel. And here’s a collector’s tip: inside the bookstore, a limited-run facsimile of his egg demonstration exists—only available for those who know to ask.