There are four million bricks in that dome and, since it sits on a drum wall and not the roof, it was built without a supporting structure. Not bad for the - at the time - largest dome in the world. Not bad for the 15th century.
It is still the largest brick dome in the world.
The top of the cross is 115 metres high. That's taller than the bell tower which is where this photo was taken. For a sense of scale, notice the people at the bottom?
I believe this is looking east and the street below is Via dell'Oriuolo.
There is no elevator (not as ridiculous as it sounds, the bell tower in Venice has one) and it's a long walk up but really worth it to see the quintessential view of a historic Italian city.
A little aside: the bell tower in Venice has an elevator because the original, 16th century tower fell in 1902 and was rebuilt.
My other photographs of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore can be found in the gallery.
There are four million bricks in that dome and, since it sits on a drum wall and not the roof, it was built without a supporting structure. Not bad for the - at the time - largest dome in the world. Not bad for the 15th century.
It is still the largest brick dome in the world.
The top of the cross is 115 metres high. That's taller than the bell tower which is where this photo was taken. For a sense of scale, notice the people at the bottom?
I believe this is looking east and the street below is Via dell'Oriuolo.
There is no elevator (not as ridiculous as it sounds, the bell tower in Venice has one) and it's a long walk up but really worth it to see the quintessential view of a historic Italian city.
A little aside: the bell tower in Venice has an elevator because the original, 16th century tower fell in 1902 and was rebuilt.
My other photographs of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore can be found in the gallery.
