Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral

Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, as one of the five major cathedrals in the world, is located in the historical center of Florence, Italy. This magnificent architectural complex includes the cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, and was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. The cathedral is decorated with white, red, and green granite on its exterior, perfectly reflecting the Renaissance pursuit of classicism, elegance, and freedom. The original site was once the 4th-century Church of Saint Reparata, until 1296, when the new church was funded by Cosimo di Giovanni de' Medici of the Medici family, and the construction took 175 years to complete. The cathedral dome designed by Brunelleschi, modeled after the Pantheon in Rome, is a classic example of the combination of classical art and science at the time. Even the Pope praised it as a 'mythical creation', and a musician even composed a concerto for it. Michelangelo, when designing the St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, also imitated this dome and lamented that he could not surpass its beauty. It is worth noting that Brunelleschi did not use sketches and calculation data during the construction process, as if he had a complete concept in his mind. Brunelleschi rests in the basement of the church, and his statue stands in the church square, guiding people to appreciate the dome he is proud of. The interior of the church is equally breathtaking, with Vasari's dome painting 'The Last Judgment' and the mural 'Dante and The Divine Comedy' commemorating the 200th anniversary of Dante's birth, among other works. Visitors can climb the 463 steps on the north side to the dome for a view of the old city of Florence.