Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence Jun 27, 2024

Welcome to Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance! Let the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore transport you through time. More than just a church, this Gothic structure, with its red-tiled dome, is steeped in centuries of history. Built over an older cathedral dedicated to Santa Reparata, construction began in 1296 under the supervision of architect Arnolfo di Cambio. Filippo Brunelleschi, an Italian architect and designer, engineered its dome, which is the largest brick dome ever constructed. It was built without the support of traditional wooden frameworks; its completion in 1436 was the final stage of the cathedral"s construction. It"s not just the outside that dazzles; inside there are artistic treasures to discover, from Giorgio Vasari"s fresco "The Last Judgement" to Paolo Uccello"s intricate clock face.

© Elena Pueyo/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Jun 27, 2025Splendid leaf frog

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 28, 2025Black-naped monarch
Apr 24, 2026Everglades National Park, Florida, United States
Feb 6, 2024Lake Tahoe
Oct 14, 2023Ring of fire solar eclipse
Apr 5, 2025Gaztelugatxe islet at sunset, Basque Country, Spain
Oct 28, 2025The Gothic Gate in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, Czechia
Jun 28, 2025Mannheim Water Tower, Germany
Jun 9, 2024Bardenas Reales Biosphere Reserve and Natural Park, Navarra, Spain
Jul 5, 2024Daintree Rainforest and Noah Beach, Queensland, Australia
May 14, 2025Porto Flavia, Sulcis-Iglesiente, Sardinia, Italy
Feb 9, 2025Alstrom Point, Lake Powell, United States
Apr 8, 2024European hedgehog
Jan 18, 2024Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
Aug 31, 2023Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona, USA
Dec 12, 2023Poinsettias
Nov 3, 2024Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatán, Mexico
Dec 21, 2025Dawn light through frosty trees, Sweden
Aug 28, 2024Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Paris
Mar 25, 2026Juvenile manatees in a freshwater spring, Crystal River, Florida
Sep 12, 2025Spinner dolphin pod
Oct 21, 2024Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia, United States
Feb 17, 2026Ochagavía, Navarre, Spain
Oct 26, 2024Gespensterwald, Niehagen, Germany
Jan 13, 2025Cottage and Tŵr Mawr lighthouse, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales, United Kingdom
Sep 2, 2023Allens hummingbird
Sep 5, 2024Toronto, Canada
Oct 7, 2025Autumn colours below Mount Sneffels near Ridgway, Colorado, United States
Feb 9, 2026Amur leopard cat, Russia
Jun 12, 2024Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA
Mar 13, 2024Lesser flamingos, Lake Magadi, Kenya