Welcome to Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance. Let the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore transport you through time. More than just a church, this Gothic structure, with its red-tiled dome, is steeped in centuries of history. Built over an older cathedral, construction began in 1296 under the supervision of architect Arnolfo di Cambio. Italian architect Filippo Brunelleschi engineered its dome, the largest brick dome ever constructed. Its completion in 1436 was the final stage of the cathedral"s construction. It"s not just the outside that dazzles; inside there are artistic treasures to discover, from Giorgio Vasari"s fresco "The Last Judgment" to Paolo Uccello"s intricate clock face. The cathedral complex is also home to the Baptistery, a small basilica, and Giotto"s Campanile, a free-standing bell tower.
Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence
Today in History
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Nature Photography Day
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Surf s up—Down Under
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Let’s go foraging
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Mam Tor, Derbyshire, England
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International Day for Biodiversity
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National Moon Day
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The Bahamas
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Here s looking Atchafalaya
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Put your helmet on, we’re going for a hike
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International Surfing Day
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New Year’s Day in the land of the rising sun
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Even nature needs a backup plan…
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Here comes summer
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This reef is nowhere near the sea…
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Sea Slug Day
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Explorer of the sea
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Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, California
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Winter scenery near Kuhmo, Finland
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Glastonbury Festival begins
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Yosemite National Park, California
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Reflections on Memorial Day
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A universe underground
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A castle fit for a count
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Super sandy Sweet 16
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Yungang Grottoes, Shanxi, China
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Lobster tales
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

