Duomo di Firenze ("Florence Cathedral") - Santa Maria del Fiore ("Saint Mary of the Flower")

The Florence Cathedral has a very long history dating back to 394 AC, the year of the consecration of the first cathedral of Florence, the Basilica of St. Lorenzo (extra muros – ‘outside the walls’). This first site for the "Bishop's Chair" was subsequently replaced by the Church of Santa Reparata the martyr, which was built in approximately 400-500 AC and subsequently extended to the area in which Santa Maria del Fiore would later be erected.
In fact, having decided that the Florence Cathedral should be expanded to cater for the increased population and to supersede the beauty and grandeur of rival cities, Pisa and Siena, in 1926 the Municipality of Florence began the construction of the current Basilica. During those years, the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore would have been the largest church in the world.
Today, Santa Maria del Fiore is the 5th largest church in Europe, after St Peter's in Rome, St Paul's in London, the Seville Cathedral and the Duomo di Milano ("Milan Cathedral").

The initial design and direction was carried out by Arnolfo di Cambio, and was later continued and expanded on by Franceso Talenti in approximately 350 AC, completed with the enormous dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi (begun in 1418 and completed in 1434).
However the polychrome facade of Santa Maria del Fiore was added much later on by Emilio De Fabris (1871 - 1887) using a neo-gothic style, imitating the authentic sides of the cathedral and the Giotto's Bell Tower.

The name "Santa Maria del Fiore" ("Santa Maria of the Flower") was intended as a tribute to the Virgin Mary. In fact, several documents dating back to 1400 attest to the fact that the "flower" was her son (Christ), born from a star (Virgin Mary).

Inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the contrast created by architectural elements is rather striking, and is the fruit of the essentialist and "poor" spirit of the Florentine renaissance, inspired by the Franciscan ethic. The rich chromatic and decorative flooring was added in 500 AC under the governance of the Grand Dukes of Florence.

As Santa Maria del Fiore was built at the expense of the Municipality of Florence (and not of the Church), instead of proposing sacred imagery, the artworks along the naves represent the renowned figures of that particular era, for example Captain Niccolò da Tolentino, Dante Alighieri, artists Giotto and Brunelleschi, etc. In addition to the naves, other artworks are however dedicated to religious themes and to the Virgin Mary, to whom the Cathedral is dedicated.

Interesting fact: the word "Duomo" derives from the Latin term "domus" (home), insofar as the Church is the home of God and his faithful.

Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze ("Central National Library of Florence")

The Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze is the largest library in Italy, with an enormous number of written documents, over 6 million printed volumes, and more than 25 thousand manuscripts, incunabula and other ancient works in storage and available for consultation.
The term "Central" was derived from the library's original function when Florence was the capital of Italy, consisting in the receipt of a copy of everything that was printed in Italy.

The Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze dates back to the 18th century, when in his will Antonio Magliabechi left the first nucleus of approximately 30 thousand volumes to the city of Florence "for the universal benefit of the city of Florence".

The "Biblioteca Magliabechiana" ("Magliabechiana Library") was thus created, located in the Uffizi complex. To stimulate growth, the government of the Grand Dukes ordered that a copy of every opera printed in Florence be submitted to the library. Subsequent donations and legacies increased and in 1770 the libraries of various religious orders were also annexed.

In 1861 the Library was unified with the Palatina library, which had been erected following the wishes of the House of Lorraine (the Grand Dukes who took over the city of Florence when the last descendent of the Medici family died), assuming the name "Biblioteca Nazionale ("National Library") and "Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale" ("Central National Library") from 1885.

Construction of the current site along the Arno began in the early 1900s (construction began in 1911), by architect Cesare Bazzani. The Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale was not transferred from the Uffizi to its current location until 1935, due to the interruption caused by the First World War.

The Library was severely hit by the Florence Flood in 1966, and despite the courageous actions of many volunteers, a considerable number of operas were permanently lost.

Address:
Piazza dei Cavalleggeri, 1
50122 Florence - tel. 055-241132

Basilica di Santa Croce ("Basilica of the Holy Cross")

The Basilica di Santa Croce is erected in its namesake piazza in Florence, and is an illustrious example of gothic Italian architecture, as well as being one of the most ample Franciscan basilicas in Italy.

The Basilica di Santa Croce is famous not only for its architectural beauty, but in particular as it houses the tombs of illustrious figures such as Michelangelo Buonarroti, Galileo Galilei, Niccolò Machiavelli, Leon Battista Alberti, Gioacchino Rossini and Ugo Foscolo, as well as numerous pictorial artworks and sculptures. The basilica floor alone holds 276 tomb stones.

It was Ugo Foscolo himself who attributed fame to the basilica, as the "pantheon" of famous persons in his poem "Dei Sepolcri" ("The Sepulchres"), defining it as the "temple of Italian glory".

The construction of the Basilica di Santa Croce began in 1294 and was completed in approximately 1385, although the facade was created in a much later period approximately halfway through the 1800s, in a style which imitates other Florentine basilicas. The Basilica is generally attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio, who died in 1302 before its completion after having successfully created the naves, including a very ample central nave, as well as the transept of the Church. Its dimensions (the central nave measures an impressive 115.43 x 38.23 metres), caused more than a few construction problems, with the naves' structural solution constituting an important precedent for the eventual construction of the Duomo di Firenze ("Florence Cathedral" or Santa Maria del Fiore, "Saint Mary of the Flower"). As with many religious buildings in that period, throughout the course of the centuries the Basilica was continuously enriched with new architectural and ornamental elements.

Franciscan influence, geared towards simplicity and sobriety, was welcomed and conveyed by Arnolfo di Cambio in the architectural and stylistic elements of the Basilica di Santa Croce, expressing a style which is intentionally only lightly decorated.
The ample glass windows, typical of gothic architecture, are an exception and date back to the years of its construction (1300-1400).

Also worthy of a particular mention, inside the 14th century cloisters which are erected on the right hand side of the Basilica, is the chapel "Cappella dei Pazzi", an architectural renaissance masterwork by Filippo Brunelleschi, whose decoration and spatial solutions are founded in perfect harmony.

In recent years, the entire Basilica di Santa Croce complex has become a single museum with an entry fee. To check opening times, visit http://www.santacroceopera.it