http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/sandamichaela-1819731-firenze-santa-maria-del-fiore2/

One of the biggest churches in Europe, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore boasts two stunning records: its renowned cupola, the fruit of Brunelleschi`s talent, is the biggest masonry dome ever built; moreover, thanks to Vasari and Zuccari, it features the broadest frescoed surface in the world.

Internet image

Internet image

Internet image

St. Reparata beside the bronze doors of the Porta Maggiore, by Amalia Dupre

A multitude of artists, including Arnolfo di Cambio and Filippo Brunelleschi, worked for 140 years - from 1296 to 1436 - to the construction of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo of Florence.

Internet images

The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival façade by Emilio De Fabris.

Internet image

The cathedral complex, located in Piazza del Duomo, includes the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile. The three buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the historic centre of Florence and are a major attraction to tourists visiting the region of Tuscany.

The 14th century facade for the front of the Duomo was removed at the end of the 16th C.by order of Grand Duke Francesco I de Medici. A competition was to be held to replace it with a more up-to-date façade,but the competition was a huge corrupted scandal and the facade was left blank until the late 19th C., when this was created.

The right portal and and Giotto's Campanile

In the tabernacle niches flanking the right Portal are statues of Pope Eugenius IV (left, who supportedFlorence against Milan in the Lombard Wars), and was responsible also for breaking the power of the Concilar movement. He also consecrated the Cathedral in 1436 and St. Antoninus (Antonio Pierozzi, the Archbishop ofFlorence, a great supporter of the poor and needy)

Pope Eugenius IV

St. Antoninus (Antonio

Pierozzi, the Archbishop of

Florence, a great

supporter of the poor and

needy)

The tondo sculpture of the right Portal, is the Madonna Dolorosa (Madonna of Sorrows), in the center of three angels in the triangular spaces of the tympanum, bearing flowers. The Madonna relief was created by Gallori, and the reliefs of angels bearing flowers were created by Zocchi.

Detail of the left Portal including niche sculptures of Cardinal Pietro Valeriani (Valerianus Legatus, at left), who blessed the Duomo’s foundations in 1296. and of Bishop Agostino Tinacci (Tinaccius Episc., right), who blessed the first pilaster in 1357. Both by Salvino Salvini

The small sculptures beside the base of the lunette on the left and right are depictions of Adam and Eve as a caveman and a bare-breasted cavewoman wearing furs. Adam and Eve were created by Torelli.

The long-necked Angels in the tympanum triangles supporting the tondo with a sculpture of Christ Bound by Passaglia.

The upper central section of the 19th c. facade, including the Rose Window. Below the Rose Window in the largest tabernacle is a statue of Mary with the infant Jesus, surrounded by the Apostles

In 1864, a competition was held to design a new façade and was won by Emilio De Fabris (1808–1883) in 1871. Work began in 1876 and completed in 1887. This neo-gothic façade in white, green and red marble forms a harmonious entity with the cathedral, Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery, but some think it is excessively decorated.The whole façade is dedicated to the Mother of Christ.

the extremely ornate arch of the Main Portal housing the lunette with its depictions of Florentine Saints and the mosaic “Christ Enthroned with Mary and St. John the Baptist”, by Niccolo Barabino

On either side of the bronze doors in tabernacles are statues of the two co-Patron Saints of Florence:St. Reparata on the left and St. Zenobius on the right. The two statues were created by Amalia Dupre,

Built between 1899 and 1903 the doors display scenes from the life of the Madonna.

On top of the façade is a series of niches with the twelve Apostles with, in the middle, the Madonna with Child. Between the rose window and the tympanum, there is a gallery with busts of great Florentine artists.

Sound: Milva - Come Spiegarti (Mikis Théodorakis)

Text: Internet

Pictures: Daniela Iacob

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda