Piazza del Duomo
Believed to be the oldest building in Florence, the octagonal Battistero di San Giovanni is located in the Piazza del Duomo. This is a fine example of an early Christian baptistery from the 6th century. It's East doors, referred to as the 'Gates of Paradise' by Michelangelo, have been called "undeniably perfect in every way and must rank as the finest masterpiece ever created." The doors currently at that gate are actually reproductions of the original, replaced in 1990 to prevent further deterioration of the priceless panels. Both the North and South doors consist of incredibly detailed bronze panels as well, and took a total of 55 years to complete. The spot for worship on the piazza is Santa Maria del Fiore. This Roman Catholic cathedral was the largest in the world upon its completion in the early 1400s. She is known for her unique red, green, and white color palette and distinctive 45 meter dome.

Fun Facts

• Santa Maria del Fiore means "Saint Mary of the Flower" referring to the lily, which is the symbol of Florence.


• The enormous dome weighs 40,785 tons and contains over four million bricks.


• The baptistery used to be surrounded by a cemetery with Roman sarcophagi used by important Florentine families as a tomb.

Links

Duomo

Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore