When was the first stone of the Florence Cathedral laid?
The first stone of the Florence Cathedral was laid on the 9th of September 1296 by Cardinal Valeriana. This event marked the beginning of a project that would last 140 years.
Questions about Florence Cathedral
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who designed the dome for the Florence Cathedral and when did construction begin?
Filippo Brunelleschi won the architectural competition announced on the 19th of August 1418 to erect Neri's dome. Erection of the dome began in 1420 and finished in 1436.
What is the history of the façade of the Florence Cathedral?
Grand Duke Francesco I de' Medici ordered the original unfinished façade dismantled between 1587 and 1588. Work on the current neo-gothic façade designed by Emilio De Fabris began in 1876 and was completed in 1887.
How many stained glass windows does the Florence Cathedral have and who designed them?
The church features 44 stained glass windows representing the largest undertaking of this kind in Italy during the 14th and 15th century. They were made after designs by Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Paolo Uccello, and Andrea del Castagno.
When was the first written evidence about cracks in the Florence Cathedral dome recorded?
The first written evidence about cracks appears in a report by Gherardo Silvani dated the 18th of September 1639. A survey completed in 1984 counted a total of 493 cracks sorted into categories identified by letters A through D.