Dome of Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore)

Timeline

1. 1420Florence · FlorenceBrunelleschi's dome design was selected, and construction formally began on the existing Gothic structure and octagonal drum, marking the launch of the boldest structural challenge in Renaissance architectural history.
2. 1421–1430Construction site of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence · FlorenceThe brick double-shell dome was built up layer by layer from the drum; workers used rotating hoisting devices and the catenary arch principle to advance construction, making this decade the most intensive and technically challenging phase of the project.
3. 1436Florence · FlorenceThe dome masonry was completed and consecrated the same year by Pope Eugene IV, becoming the largest brick dome in the world at the time, symbolizing the engineering prowess and artistic ambition of the Florentine Republic.