Tuscany travel:
Firenze - Florence
 The Duomo

A large part of the remains of this church can be seen today in the archeological area underneath the Cathedral. The costs however were also expected to be partly contributed by the population itself. A tax was put on all last wills and testaments which was in turn put towards the construction of the Cathedral.

In 1294 the project was ultimately assigned to Arnolfo di Cambio and the first stone was ceremoniously laid by him on September 8th, 1296. Head Architect of the City Council, Arnolfo was already revolutionizing the Franciscan basilica of Santa Croce. The basilica was indeed of grandeur with three wide naves that meet in the vast chancel where the high altar stands and surrounded by the "trefoil" shaped tribune on which the cupola rests. Arnolfo spent his last years working on completing the two bays and the new facade which were only finished halfway.

Like that of the Baptistery, the diameter of the Dome was projected to be 45.5 meters. Arnolfo worked on the Cathedral up until his death in 1302 but four years earlier had already begun work on the construction of Palazzo Vecchio as well.

After the death of Arnolofo, the work grounded to a halt. In 1334 Giotto was named to oversee further construction but died shortly after in 1337. Most of this time was dedicated to the building of his Belltower.

The ceiling frescos - Photo © timotysschenk

Work was then succeeded by Andrea Pisano, author of the South Doors of the Baptistery, up until 1348 when the terrible plague reduced the population in half from 90,000 to 45,000.

The Bell tower was finally completed in 1359 after 10 years of work overseen by Francesco Talenti. In 1360 a new project was begun with the collaboration of Giovanni di Lapo Ghini. The project saw the division of the center nave into four square bays, with fewer windows than the original design by Arnolfo, and with two lateral bays.

By 1370 the project was already well advanced, although Giovanni di Lapo Ghini had left, and a new project for the apse to amplify Arnolfo's "trefoil". In 1375 Santa Reparta was taken down which indicated that Santa Maria del Firoe was now ready to be the new cathedral of Florence.