The Dome of Florence Cathedral by Brunelleschi

The actual construction of the Florence Cathedral dome by skilled Italian craftsmen took about 16 years and was finally completed in 1436. Brunelleschi's design features a double-walled ovoid shell anchored at the bottom by a 15 meter high tambour eliminating the need for scaffolding and reinforcement. The dome is 44 meters in diameter and 113 meters high topped by a lantern that is accessed by a stairway between the interior and exterior walls of the dome. Florence Cathedral is commonly known simply as The Duomo because of the beauty and magnificence of Brunelleschi's design and its striking impact on the skyline of Florence.

Brenda Harness, Art Historian