Building of the Week: Florence Cathedral, Italy

An artist's conception of the finished cathedral, 1390
Andrea di Bonauito

One of the biggest triumphs of Renaissance architecture as well as one of the most important domed structures in the world, Florence Cathedral (also known as “Il Duomo” and, officially, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore) is the work of history’s most celebrated architects and artists over several centuries.


The jewel in the sparkling crown that is Florence, Italy, the basilica is known for its brilliant multi-colored marble façade, its towering campanile and, especially, its massive octagonal dome. At the center of Florence’s artistic and religious life, the basilica represents some of the most radical thinking in the history of architecture.

Prior to 1296, the site was the home of a different cathedral dedicated to Santa Reparata which had been founded in the early Fifth Century. By the Thirteenth Century, the cathedral had begun to crumble after eight hundred years of use. The need for a new cathedral had become urgent as the population of Florence continued to grow. To make matters worse, Sienna and Pisa had begun new cathedral complexes and Florence was not about to be outdone.

In 1296, Arnolfo di Cambio, the architect of Santa Croce and the Palazzo Vecchio, had been commissioned to design the new structure. He envisioned a wide basilica with a tall octagonal dome. Though he hadn’t quite worked out the mechanics of the enormous dome (such a feat of architecture without the aid of wooden supports hadn’t been attempted since the Pantheon), Arnolfo’s plan was approved and construction began two years later. Sadly, Arnolfo died eight years later.

After Arnolfo’s death in 1302, construction of the cathedral nearly came to a halt for thirty years. His design was complicated and no one was quite sure how to approach the project—especially that pesky dome. In 1330, relics of San Zenobius were discovered in Santa Reparata (which still hadn’t been pulled down and was sitting in the middle of the construction site). This discovery escalated the need for the work on the cathedral to continue so that the increased number of pilgrims visiting the site could be accommodated. Famous architect and artist Giotto took over the project and worked steadily on it until a little trouble hit Italy in the form of the Black Plague in 1348.

Giotto’s death in 1337 meant that his assistant, Andrea Pisano, would have to take over. However, Giotto did manage to complete the campanile and several other structural elements following the original designs of Arnolfo di Cambio.

Several other architects manned the project over the following decades. By 1375, Santa Reparata was finally pulled down. And, by 1418, all but the dome had been completed.

Ah, the dome. That was a problem. How would it stand without wooden supports? How would it be constructed? As was often the practice of the time, a structural design competition was held to see who could complete the dome. The search was narrowed down to two people—both famous names: Filippo Brunelleschi and Lorenzo Ghiberti (who designed the ornamental doors to the Baptistry). Brunelleschi had the support of Cosimo de Medici, so naturally, he was awarded the commission. Work started on the dome in 1420 and took over sixteen years.

The Cathedral in 1880

The dome is constructed of a complicated series of bricks and mortar which is supported by metal and wooden bands within the masonry. A feat of engineering, the dome continues to dominate the skyline of Florence.

Though the cathedral was “open for business,” by the early Fifteenth Century, work continued on the decorative marble façade well into the 1880’s. Similarly, the gorgeous stained glass windows and numerous sculptures were also added over time. Despite the impressive architecture of the basilica, the interior is rather Spartan compared to others of the era—allowing for the building to speak for itself.

Today, Florence Cathedral remains one of the most impressive architectural accomplishments in history. It will forever be a symbol of the ingenuity of the Renaissance and of the arts of Italy. To learn more about Il Duomo, this Web site can offer you a lot of great information.

Building of the Week: The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island

Finished in 1895, The Breakers is the first of two Vanderbilt Mansions in the high-tone city of Newport, Rhode Island—the New England summer resort of the wealthy and famous. Considered one of the finest examples of Golden Age architecture in the U.S., The Breakers represents the imposing Neoclassical style which defined Beaux Arts Architecture.


Members of the Vanderbilt Family, it seems, became easily bored with their homes and always searched for new, opulent digs. Goodness knows they had enough properties at their disposal. This particular mansion—of seventy rooms and totaling over 65,000 square feet—was built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II between 1893 and 1895. Vanderbilt enlisted celebrated architect Richard Morris Hunt to design the Beaux Arts Mansion which was to sit upon land that had previously sported another grand home—lost in a fire in 1892.

Because Vanderbilt was concerned that his new palace, like its predecessor, might also be consumed by a fire, Hunt designed the mansion to be built from stone and metal with no supporting structures of wood. The mansion’s furnaces are, to this day, located outside of the house—at a great distance away. They remain under the entrance to the estate. In the winter, the snow and ice on the land over the underground furnace rooms always melts.

In true Neoclassical style the house is a symmetrical plan, built around an impressive Great Hall. The interior of the house boasts the finest Italian and African marbles, rare woods, extravagant ornamentation, mosaics and architectural remnants from historical structures which were purchased abroad. The stained glass ceiling in the great hall was actually extracted from another home belonging to the Vanderbilts.

Though the house now belongs to The Preservation Society of Newport County, the furnishings and artifacts inside are still the property of the Vanderbilt family who occasionally still use the ornate Louis XVI-style apartments on the third floor.

When in Newport, a visit to the Breakers would be well worth your while. Touring the glorious, formal gardens and this magnificent house would be like returning to 1895. To learn more about visiting The Breakers, visit the Web site of The Preservation Society of Newport County.