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| Florence travel guide, vacation in Florence, holiday in Florence, tour of Florence, tourism Florence, booking hotel in Florence, rent a car Florence, fly to Florence, Incoming Florence, Wedding in Florence, Weather Florence, Images Florence |
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Cathedral - Santa Maria del Fiore
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The Cathedral of Florence is the fourth church of Europe for largeness, after Saint Peter in Rome, Saint Paul in London and the Dome of Milan.
The construction began on the ancient foundations of the church of Santa Reparata in 1296; in 1412 the name was changed in Santa Maria del Fiore. The church was consecrated on 25th of March 1436, at the end of the works on the dome of Brunelleschi, by Pope Eugene IV. In 1419 he was announced a public competition for the planning of the dome. The competition, generally considered the beginning of the construction of the dome, did not have an official winner. The construction was entrusted to Filippo Brunelleschi, and on 7th August 1420 he began the construction, that finished in 1436.
The cathedral is built on the model of the basilica; the interior, simple and rather austere, strongly gives an impression of aerial emptiness.
Many of the decorations of the church have been removed; sometimes they were destroyed, sometimes moved in the nearby Museum dell'Opera del Duomo, like the magnificent choirs of Luca della Robbia and Donatello.
Some works of the cathedral reflect its public function, with monuments dedicated to illustrious men and military commanders of Florence.
Initially the dome must be decorated with gilded mosaics, in order to reflect the light from the windows of the tambour, like suggested by Brunelleschi. His death stopped this expensive plan and the dome was simply plastered. The Grand Duke Cosimo de' Medici then chose the topic of the Universal Judgment for its frescoes.
Always considered not only a church but also a temple of art, the Cathedral keeps also important tokens linked to the world of science.
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The best accommodations:
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Hotel Londra * * * * Firenze
Just 200 metres from Santa Maria Novella Railway Station, Hotel Londra features free Wi-Fi, friendly staff, and clean, spacious and elegantly furnished rooms in the centre of Florence.
Start your day in Florence with Hotel Londra’s excellent buffet breakfast. Dine in the hotel’s One Garden Loung ...
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hotel Villa La Vedetta * * * * * Firenze
Villa La Vedetta brings you elegance, luxury and utter relaxation, just a few steps down the river from the Ponte Vecchio and all the rest of Florence’s beautiful sights.
This recently refurbished neo-renaissance villa situated in a green and peaceful part of Florence, is set in splendid gardens ...
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Hotel degli Orafi * * * * Firenze
Originally an Augustine convent, Hotel degli Orafi is set in a 13th-century building in the heart of Florence, facing the Ponte Vecchio, beside the Uffizi Gallery.
Hotel degli Orafi enjoys panoramic views across the city. Inside the hotel you can admire the remains of an ancient medieval tower. ...
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