Santa Maria del Fiore, or the Florence Duomo, was constructed over the course of over 140 years under the supervision of multiple head architects. The cathedral was commissioned by the Florence city council in order to replace an ageing church dedicated to Saint Reparata. The initial designs of the cathedral were completed by Arnolfo di Cambio, however, after his death these plans were modified and enlarged. In 1366 final designs for the nave were finalized by a committee of artists and artisans. During this period, two factions formed: those in favor of a smaller, more conservative dome, and those in favor of a larger dome seen as "the more honorable" and "the more magnificent" option. This more daring plan was decided upon, ensuring Florence would have the largest and most magnificent church in Europe at the time. However, the size of the cathedral as well as its irregular octagonal knave posed a significant problem for the completion of the structure. While the main structure of the nave was completed by 1380, a solution to constructing a dome to top it was not determined until 1418.

“ Florence Cathedral in 1392.” On Architecture, Columbia University, www.learn.columbia.edu/ma/htm/sw/ma_sw_prim_flor_cath_1392.htm.

“Florence Cathedral.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Feb. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Cathedral.

“Florence Cathedral.” Archinomy, www.archinomy.com/case-studies/946/florence-cathedral.

image courtesy of  http://www.travelingintuscany.com/engels/firenze/santamariadelfiore.htm