the Duomo in Florence

A front page article in today's Contra Costa Times gives me a renewed appreciation of the architectural and engineering miracle represented by the Duomo in Florence, Italy.

The Times article describes the $190 million, 224,000 square foot Christ the Light Cathedral currently under construction in Oakland, CA. It is said to be the most expensive church building in American history. Look carefully at the construction photograph to the left, and you will see the scaffolding being used to support the dome while it is under construction.

Consider that the Duomo in Florence was built in the fourteenth century. It was constructed without the use of structural steel. Designed by architect and sculptor Filippo Brunelleschi, the self-supporting dome was built without the aid of scaffolding to support its weight until its construction was complete. With a diameter of 42 meters, the Duomo is one of the largest self-supporting domes in the world.

If you plan to visit Florence (and you should), buy a copy of Brunelleschi's Dome and read it before you get to Florence. Written by Ross King, the book is a great read and tells the story of the construction of the Duomo, the competition that led to the selection of Brunelleschi's design, the political intrigue involved, and life in Florence in the Early Renaissance. The book will greatly add to your appreciation of the entire city, and you will view the cathedral itself with a deep sense of appreciation for the technological miracle it represents.

Then, definitely pay the few euros it costs to climb to the pinnacle of the Duomo. It's a long climb, but you will experience first hand the inner and outer shells of the dome, and you will be able to imagine the human toil that went into its construction. Workers had to make that climb each day, working high above the floor of the cathedral.

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