Commissioned by Cartier now available to own as a print
Florence Cathedral sits right at the heart of the historic center, in Piazza del Duomo, and its dome and bell tower dominate the city skyline. It stands close to the Baptistery of San Giovanni and forms the core of Florence’s cathedral complex.
 
The cathedral is not tucked away on the edge of Florence; it is one of the buildings that visually and symbolically defines the city center. From many streets in the old town, the dome acts as a landmark that helps orient you through the dense medieval street pattern.
 
The Duomo complex includes the cathedral, Giotto’s Campanile, and the Baptistery, all gathered around the same square. That makes Piazza del Duomo one of the most important open spaces in Florence, both urbanistically and historically.
 
Because the cathedral rises above the surrounding roofs, it reads as the city’s central monument rather than just a church. In practical terms, if you’re walking in Florence’s historic core, heading toward the Duomo means heading toward the center of the old city. Its a really useful way finding marker.
 
Interesting facts...
Before the cathedral, the site held the older church of Santa Reparata, and the new project was laid out so the old church could keep functioning for a long time during construction. Later, parts of the older fabric were cleared away as the new cathedral took shape, and the area was heavily reorganised around the new monumental scale of the Duomo.